"Navy Blue raps as though he's leading you out of a dark, damp tunnel and into the light. His voice is measured and restrained, often strident, as if he's talking you through breathing exercises to ground you in the throes of a panic attack. Since Sage Elsesser's debut LP as Navy Blue, 2020's Àdá Irin, he's been paring his music down to be the purest elemental reflection of his heart."
"But any danger of malaise is absent from his sixth album, The Sword & The Soaring. The motif of the Archangel Michael, an important figure in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, looms over the 16 tracks, creating the sensation that those who passed are watching over us (and fighting on our behalf), even as the pain of their departure remains fresh and as further difficult lessons await on the horizon."
Navy Blue's sixth album, The Sword & The Soaring, foregrounds grief and loss while repeatedly emphasizing hope. The record spans 16 tracks and centers on the motif of Archangel Michael, suggesting the dead watch and fight on behalf of the living. Sage Elsesser's vocal delivery is measured, restrained and sometimes strident, functioning as a grounding presence amid introspection. The production moves between spare, sample-based loops and richer, soul-tinged touches that provide emotional weight. Returning to independent release after being dropped by Def Jam in early 2024, Elsesser continues pared-down, reflective work shaped by an indefinitely shelved project.
Read at Pitchfork
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