In Praise of Shadows [Deluxe]

by Puma Blue

Overview

The debut full-length album from London's Puma Blue, 2021's In Praise of Shadows, showcases his hypnotic blend of lyrical indie rock and jazzy, '90s-style downtempo electronica. The stage name of singer/songwriter and producer Jacob Allen, Puma Blue first garnered buzz for his equally atmospheric EPs, 2017's Swum Baby and 2018's Blood Loss. In Praise of Shadows finds him further expanding his guitar- and vocals-based sound, weaving in a dusky blend of analog and electronic textures. Try to imagine something along the lines of Jeff Buckley recording at home with J Dilla, and you won't be far off from the narcotic bedroom vibe Puma Blue conjures here. Poetically titled cuts like "Velvet Leaves," "Opiate," and "Slick Print" mix Allen's hushed vocals with shimmering guitar riffs and head-nodding beats that he pushes way up in the mix. Elsewhere, he draws upon an otherworldly combination of influences, his harmonized, double-tracked vocals evoking a surprising concoction of Sade and Low on the ballad "Silk Print." Similarly evocative, "Oil Slick" nicely updates the vintage trip-hop of bands like Morcheeba and Massive Attack with its frenetic groove, strings, and sax solo. It's also impressive how balanced Puma Blue's sound can be, intentionally threatening to fall off the page with a lo-fi guitar sample one second and then diving into a mesmerizingly seductive R&B groove the next, as on the D'Angelo-esque "Is It Because." With In Praise of Shadows, Puma Blue has crafted a deliberate slow burn of a debut album you'll enjoy taking your time with. ~ Matt Collar

Product Details

Release Date:	10/28/2022
Label:	Blue Flowers Music
UPC:	5400863055554
Rank:	31767

Tracks

1. Postcard From Tokyo
2. All I Need
3. Velvet Leaves [Live]
4. Snowflower [Live]
5. Already Falling [Live]
6. Sheets [Live]
7. Oil Slick [Live]
8. Opiate [Live]
9. Bath House [Live]
10. Super Soft [Live]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Puma Blue   Primary Artist
Tim Gardner   Violin
Alex Burey   Sampling,Keyboards
Harvey Grant   Noise,Piano,SH-101,Clarinet,Keyboards,Saxophone,Shac-shac,Fender Rhodes,Roland Synthesizer
Ellis Dupuy   Drums
Maria Osuchowska   Harp
Cameron Dawson   Bass
Luke Bower   Guitar,Vocals
Matthew Roberts   Cello
Bre Antonia   Vocals
Jacob Allen   Bass,Noise,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Synthesizer,Synthesizer Bass,Roland Synthesizer

Technical Credits

Heba Kadry   Mastering
Andrew Sarlo   Loop,Producer,Tape Machine,Additional Production
Alex Burey   Composer
Marta Salogni   Mixing,Programming
Kwake Bass   Engineer,Drum Engineering
Harvey Grant   Arranger,Engineer,Morchang,Producer,String Arrangements,Additional Production,AMS Audiophile Operator
Ellis Dupuy   Arranger
Puma Blue   Producer
Wu-Lu   Engineer
Cameron Dawson   Arranger
Luke Bower   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer
Fisk   Graphic Design
Jay Devenny   Composer
Liv Hamilton   Photography
Netti Hurley   Photography
Ruch Creswick   Arranger
Lloyd Calderon-Polson   Arranger
Jacob Allen   Arranger,Composer,Lyricist,Producer,Drum Programming,String Arrangements