Visions

by Norah Jones

Overview

Norah Jones named her eighth proper studio set Visions because many of the musical ideas occurred to her in the middle of the night, right when her consciousness was hazy: they weren't fully realized so much as an apparition. That sense of dreaminess carries through to the finished product but not in ways that are commonly associated with such a description. Far from being an album constructed for twilight hours -- a dimly lit excursion into mood music -- Visions is clear and light, its textures vividly articulated and its rhythms mellow and fluid. It's music that feels alive, inhaling and exhaling with a gentle insistence; it's never rushed, never clipped. Despite the record's inherent relaxation, Visions never quite proceeds in a linear path. Chalk this up to Jones' choice of collaborator. Working again with Leon Michels, a veteran of the seminal retro-soul outfit Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings who previously produced Norah's 2021 seasonal set I Dream of Christmas, Jones embraces the possibilities of psychedelic-tinged soul without succumbing to its trappings. Visions pulsates softly and sweetly, like a lava lamp slowly shifting colors in the background. The hues aren't hyper-saturated; they're pleasing pastels radiating warmth. The emphasis on atmosphere isn't unusual for a Norah Jones album -- after all, she has worked with hip-hop collage artist Danger Mouse -- but Visions feels bright and open. It glides between modulated soul jams, languid ballads, and hopeful pop tunes, each enlivened by flair that's felt more than heard: horns start to sigh in the background, Jones' voice gets an off-kilter filter, guitars take an elliptical journey to a resolving chord. The results aren't startling so much as they're fresh, avoiding musical and lyrical clichés. Witness "That's Life," a closing number that offers its inspirational advice not only with a knowing shrug but a song that rushes into a chorus and backs away on its bridge; the sentiment is familiar, but the execution isn't. It's a fitting farewell on a record that offers boundless imagination underneath its cool surface. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	03/15/2024
Label:	Universal Import
UPC:	0602458994261
Rank:	93016

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Norah Jones   Primary Artist,Bass,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards,Omnichord,Synthesizer,Guitar (Electric)
Dave Guy   Trumpet
Leon Michels   Bass,Drums,Organ,Guitar,Tambourine,Sax (Tenor),Sax (Baritone)
Jesse Murphy   Bass,Double Bass,Bass (Upright),Bass (Electric)
Brian Blade   Drums
Homer Steinweiss   Drums

Technical Credits

Leon Michels   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Recording,Drum Programming
Steve Cook   A&R
Jens Jungkurth   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Recording
Alex DeTurk   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Pete Remm   Composer
Nikki Young   A&R
Rachel Jones   A&R
Garrett Robinson   Mastering Engineer
Lucas Carpenter   Assistant Engineer
Joelle Grace Taylor   Photography
Scott Hull   Mastering Engineer
Katie Moore   Design,Art Direction
Homer Steinweiss   Composer
Norah Jones   Composer