When it comes to Kindness’s new sophomore album Otherness, first thing’s first: that cover. Extreme close-up on super aesthetically pleasing Adam Bainbridge’s somber face, it is almost corny how obvious the homage is to the old soul and R&B albums Bainbridge loves so much. Almost. Juxtaposing the old school design is Bainbridge—the mastermind behind Kindness—rocking the longest, most glorious head of hair contemporary R&B has ever seen. Behind the mane, Bainbridge gazes out to a face we cannot meet, a memory we cannot access. Until, of course, we press play.
Then Kindness launches into a funky jam session in album opener “World Restart,” a groove and energy contradicting the serious, contemplative album art. Next the pieces seem to come together as “This is Not About Us” begins with melancholy jazz piano and saxophone. Percussion adds funk to the track, connecting it back to “World Restart” whilst segueing into the more mellow tracks.
Throughout Otherness, Bainbridge acknowledges all of the styles and artists, old and new, who have shaped his sound over the years. Higher profile guest vocalists include Swedish songstress Robyn and Blood Orange’s Devonte Hynes, both of whom share a deep friendship with Bainbridge outside of the studio. Otherness also spotlights smaller artists like Ade and Tawiah. In an unexpected moment of dope-ness, M. Anifest drops in for a rap verse in “8th Wonder,” but really it is the mesmerizing Kelela who steals the show. Her ethereal vocals on “World Restart” make us think, “How is she not a global sensation already?” This query gets more emphatic after she takes over “With You,” which convinces us to go out and buy Kelela’s own music as soon as Otherness concludes.
Sonically, the most interesting track on Otherness is “For the Young,” which features a beautiful acoustic guitar melody. It transports us immediately to a tropical, far-away island escape. Disrupting this breeziness are brief audio bites of dialogue from the island natives. These come and go so quickly that we cannot make out what they say, and, at first, wonder if it is some glitch in the record. Ultimately, the audio clips add to the production quality and realism. Preceding “For the Young,” “Geneva” haunts listeners with a stirring tribute to Bainbridge’s new home in Switzerland. The choral arrangement hearkens a church hymnal, implying that Geneva is Bainbridge’s heaven, and that the planet is his spirituality. Bainbridge also incorporates his travels into Otherness, representing pretty much every continent’s musical contribution to the world.
In most tracks, Bainbridge’s lyrics are simple and repetitious. “You forgot my name,” “I’ve been searching,” and “who do you love?” are standout lines from the album that hit the listener directly. They do not hide behind metaphors or word play, but rather, come right at us forcefully, yet delicately. All of the vocals are soft, and with music so complex, the lyrics need to be repeated to truly have an impact. These lyrics stick with us even as we find ourselves grooving along to the album’s masterful production.
Otherness exemplifies Bainbridge’s unrivaled talent in the studio as well. He understands music, what sounds work together, and how to make a song aurally as pleasing as possible. Each song has layers of sound, so with every listen we notice something new. In Otherness, Bainbridge songs make our hips shake and our hearts break, encapsulating in a humble, innovative album a rainbow of human emotion.