Natasha Kmeto - Inevitable

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  • Natasha Kmeto has been through a lot. Her head-turning debut album, Crisis, found her struggling to come to terms with her queer identity and dealing with a fraught relationship at the same time. The record brought the Portland artist attention and praise like she'd never seen before, which set the tone for positive changes in her life. Not only did she get engaged, she signed to Dave Sitek's Federal Prism label, giving her access to a professional studio. But then, for unspecified reasons, Federal Prism never released her follow-up album, Inevitable. Now, that record has arrived via Dropping Gems, her old label, almost a year late. Fortunately, time hasn't dulled its edge. The title refers to Kmeto coming to terms with her life's direction, something she discussed with RA last year. Her newfound contentment is reflected in Inevitable, but so is the rough journey it took to get there. Yearning turns to fighting to resolution, with the highs higher than before and the lows lower. Inevitable is all-around more complete, and it better translates the sheer power of her live show. At least part of Inevitable's strength comes from the pro setup she had access to (she used to record with a laptop in her bedroom). It's not just a matter of fancy mics and soundproofed rooms, though—Kmeto sounds more in control. She's developed her clubby mélange into a new hybrid that sounds very much her own, neither fully pop nor completely dance. Each song feels tailored to its subject matter. On "Come And Say," which deals with her anxiety, the instrumental production rattles and pounds with the growing intensity of a panic attack. Kmeto is able to pull her songs between lilting verses and pounding choruses, imitating the surges of hot and cold that come with an on-and-off relationship. On "Peak," the album's intimidating centerpiece, she alternates between sinuous verses and brutal choruses, demanding "Tell me how you want it babe / and I'll show you where you need it" over ruthless drum programming. Her vocals are equally proficient. She ad libs and twists notes like an expert, adding a lilt to her strong bellow. Hurt and indignant, "I Thought You Had A Boyfriend" is one of her best performances, while her duet with Tunde Adebimpe on "Grind" is unusually smoky. To go with Inevitable's beefed-up sound is a bigger range of emotions, particularly as the album heads towards its happy ending. Kmeto's tracks often feel like bulldozers, but her attack has become more varied here. "Stubborn" skulks and sighs like Music For The Masses-era Depeche Mode. "On A String" presents a rare moment of vulnerability: her voice single-tracked where it's typically layered. Most notable is closer "Your Girl," a tender denouement with Kmeto singing in a higher register. It's a rare moment where she sounds happy and peaceful, and the results are stunning. Kmeto's power comes down to the way she displays her personal life—sexual energy, anger, pride and sadness all burn a hole right through the club-informed music. The formula makes Inevitable feel as fiery as it is intimate.
  • Tracklist
      01. Inevitable 02. That One Thing 03. Come And Say 04. Grind feat. Tunde Adebimpe 05. Peak 06. I Thought You Had A Boyfriend 07. Stubborn 08. Closer Comes My Love 09. On A String 10. Your Girl
RA