Her most fully realized and vulnerable effort to date,
You & I carries
Rita Ora into the future with a collection of songs that celebrate new love and self-acceptance. Following 2018's excellent sophomore set
The Phoenix, the long gap between full-lengths results in a bevy of new experiences for
Ora to sing about as she enters another phase of life. The front half of the album is loaded with the big pop moments, such as the one-two punch of the euphoric opening run "Don't Think Twice" and "You Only Love Me," peaking with album highlight "Praising You," which interpolates
Fatboy Slim's "Praise You" to the intended joyous effect. "Waiting for You" hits a similar sweet spot, sounding like an
Avicii chart-topper that could level a festival audience. Throwback synths shimmer on "That Girl" -- which borrows from
Rick James' classic "Party All the Time" -- and haunt on the dark, confused "Unfeel It." For the closing run of
You & I (almost a full half of the total tracks on the deluxe edition), most of the energy has been expended and it's time for the ballads and midtempo sentimentality. While the best of the bunch appeared earlier on track six as the dramatic but triumphant '80s ballad "You & I," songs like "Look at Me Now" and "I Don't Wanna Be Your Friend" push the emotion (and
Ora's vocals) to the fore like a
Sia production. Facing her fears and taking the plunge,
Ora dances and pines her way through soulful depths and exciting highs.
You & I is a nourishing, adult examination of love and relationships that matures the singer and her catalog in the process. ~ Neil Z. Yeung