Rating: 9/10
Fousheé, the genre-defying artist who first went viral on TikTok in 2020 with “Deep End Freestyle,” is back with a captivating new album, “Pointy Heights.”
Since her breakthrough into the music industry four years ago, the Jamaican-American artist has released multiple singles and been featured on numerous songs, the most popular being Steve Lacy’s “Sunshine.”
Her debut album, “softCORE,” was released in 2022 and experimented with a gritty R&B grunge sound that received mixed reviews from critics.
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Fousheé completely doubles back on her newest release, switching from the grungier concept of “softCORE” and embracing a lighter and more diverse palette of sounds.
According to CLASH, “Pointy Heights” is named after the land Fousheé’s grandfather owns in Jamaica, symbolizing a return to her roots. The Caribbean influence is strong on the album, with many songs featuring lively, brassy sounds that highlight danceable rhythms.
Fousheé continues to display her versatility and complexity on “Pointy Heights” with atmospheric tracks like “birds, bees” and “closer.”
“birds, bees” features a captivating reggae groove, the whimsical sound of the recorder playfully dancing around the melody while the drums provide a steady backdrop. It’s an illustrious start to the album, the undertones of reggae and ska bubbling to the surface with rich instrumentation and fizzling basslines.
A few weeks before the album dropped, the single, “100 bux,” was released. It is a light-hearted and glistening experience led by distorted guitar riffs and an aerial whirlwind of hazy vocals.
The song, which is notably co-produced by Lacy, takes on more of a grittier tone compared to the exuberant dance tracks, embracing R&B and alternative sounds that encapsulate a lackadaisical ambiance with moments of intense depth.
She’s adventurous and secure in her sound, whatever sound that may be, seamlessly turning the album into a varied display of sonic diversity.
While the album is sonically pleasurable, it’s also lyrically stunning. Fousheé touches on themes of independence and vulnerability, embracing her authenticity with each verse. She swiftly navigates between strength and sensitivity, the retrospective lyrics giving way to a heartfelt journey into Fousheé’s true self.
Not only does she paint an entirely new sound, but she shamelessly offers a spacious exploration of her inner world.
It’s packed with feelings — happiness, anger, defiance, heartbreak and rebellion — that capture a raw and sharp energy. The lyrics are jarring and genuine, pulling the listeners in with bold verses that Fousheé doesn’t shy away from.
“Bury my hands in your hands, we could start a fire,” Fousheé sings over the shape-shifting beat and off-kilter melody of “closer.”
“closer” is composed of guitar-laced melodies and a laid-back blend of alternative and R&B, exploring themes of intimacy and vulnerability over the airy, laid-back atmosphere.
In contrast, “loversland” takes a different approach with disco-sounding experimentation, a pulsing beat and a wailing synth. The song encapsulates a new-wave vibe, Fousheé’s dreamy falsetto playfully bantering with the instrumentation.
Similarly, “rice & peas” has a disco vibe, with distorted vocals pairing with an electronic whirlwind of melodic sounds. It has a dreamlike quality that showcases a disco influence while introducing a contemporary edge.
Fousheé is unapologetically genuine. On “Pointy Heights,” she rethinks her sound, transforming the punk-grit from her previous album to a lush palette of alt R&B and reggae that feels distinctly her.
She’s confident in what she has to offer, a diverse landscape of sounds that courses through the album and the authenticity that shines with it.
