released: october 4, 2024

genre: hip-hop

from: london, uk

label: modern oak

a few thoughts: north london’s star emcee is back with her sophomore full length release, forward ever. lex amor is someone i’ve known and admired for a while now, her deeply poetic and moving music being some of the best the uk has seen in years. her debut project, government tropicana came out in september 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic and a period of isolation where, for a lot of us, was a chance to reflect, on our anxieties and opportunities for growth. it feels crazy that it’s been four years since her last project. time flies of course, but it comes to show how timeless her debut is. enter forward ever, lex amor’s new creation. it’s a dazzling, immersive 9-track masterpiece with an emphasis on heavier drums brought by production from the likes of oliver palfreyman, lo-wu, intalekt, setwun, buli, maxwell owin and co-produced all by lex amor herself, the record is sonically cohesive, with eclectic and soulful soundscapes that are immersive. “sun4rain” opens the album with soulful and lush oli beat, ethereal synths and fast-paced drumming that create this infectious and dynamic groove to the track, as lex has contemplations about her mental health, with reflections on her personal growth journey over the years. it’s a vulnerable, emotive listen, as all the tracks throughout are of course, but the opener really sets the tone perfectly for the rest of the album. “shine in”, with lo-wu on production is a dynamic cut, with his signature garage-inspired grooves and drums jittering throughout the gorgeous melodies, as lex flows effortlessly throughout, melting with the beat’s warm tone. “this life is lovely baby / don’t let them nab you / city made you want to place your p’s on a mantle / city made you want to chase the things you ain’t have to / city make you want to stay a statue / it’s not natural” lex spits, a comment on capitalism and the false promise of freedom under an oppressive system. lex has always championed this freedom, and the constant reflections on that battle between personal freedom and collective liberation is always a fascinating discussion, and lex explores that topic with a critical mind. “beg” with oli on production is another stellar moment, with driving grooves and beats that are emphatic and with subdued lex vocals. “grip” is produced by oli again, and might be my favourite beat on the album. with gorgeous keys but a menacing tone and energy to it and lex amor’s punchy and thoughtful lyricism. “why would i dream subtly when nothing beats a proper movie” is such a poignant image, the entire album sprinkled with gems like this. “a7x” featuring bxks and produced again by oli is another highlight, wrote more about it here. “summer rain”, produced by setwun is a dynamic and groovy cut, the track probably most geared to the dancefloor on the album in terms of energy, with a simultaneously melancholic tone. the synths, melodies and vocal harmonies are stunning, as lex allows the beat to breath before serenading us with her gorgeous voice, reflecting again on the world around her. “1000 tears” is a stunningly immersive track produced by intalekt, with soulful, lush and soulful synths and guitars, capturing the vulnerable beauty and vibe of the album. eliza’s vocal contribution is stunning too. lex floats on the track, with the soundscape acting like clouds supporting her introspections. “again”, produced by buli, is another radiant track, as lex opens by singing “you can only cry with open eyes / that’s why it took me time to open mine / father god i want to fly” with a lush, eclectic soundscape that builds throughout. “super blessed” closes the album with a groovy, rhythmic maxwell owin beat, as she reflects on her blessings, her stronger love and connection to herself and those around her. it’s a grandiose, moving closer to a stunning body of work. lex amor’s energy on forward ever is raw, melancholic yet healing. her introspections and poetry throughout are something to be studied, but it’s the vibe and tone of the album as a whole that makes it so, so good. it’s one of the most impressive albums to come out this year, hands down.

the album: