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Essie Ware intentionally aimed for the first song on That! Feels Good! to emulate the sounds of a group engaged in an orgy. The track features contributions from notable figures such as Kylie Minogue, actor Jamie Demetriou, Radio 1 host Clara Amfo, producer Benny Blanco, and Ware’s mother (who also co-hosts the popular podcast Table Manners), all quietly whispering the album’s title. This creates a satisfying, brain-tingling effect similar to that of an ASMR video, drawing listeners into the luxurious and decadent world of Ware’s exceptional fifth album. The record celebrates the artist’s sense of joyful liberation, as highlighted by the lyrics of the title track: “Freedom is a sound / And pleasure is a right!”
Ware is authorized to declare such a statement. After the unsatisfactory safety measures of her third album, Glasshouse in 2017, the singer reassessed her career and made drastic changes. She acquired new management and entered the studio with the intention of enjoying herself. The outcome was her album released during lockdown, What’s Your Pleasure? in 2020, a sophisticated disco record that revived Ware’s career and reestablished her as a dance music diva like in her early days. Her live performances were reminiscent of an underground club night, full of wild energy and sensuality. Ware took on the role of a dominatrix, commanding the stage with a whip. After being confined due to the pandemic, Ware seemed to be urging the world to make up for lost time.
The album That! Feels Good! is filled with ecstatic hedonism and driven by intense euphoria, as Ware encourages listeners to embrace their pleasure. She sets an example by declaring herself a lover, a free spirit, and a mother who embraces her desires. In the song Pearls, Ware entices listeners to join her on the dance floor as she sings about the allure of danger and the desire to reach new heights. On Free Yourself, Ware blends together satisfaction and sexual empowerment against a backdrop of lively pianos, funky bass, and Italo disco strings. The song encourages listeners to please themselves and not hold back if it feels good. In Beautiful People, Ware’s playful rap, cowbells, and horns promote the idea of using the dance floor as a way to escape life’s troubles and find joy in the midst of misery.
Ware’s vocals have always been her strongest asset and she expertly controls them on her album That! Feels Good! She showcases her vocal range on songs like Free Yourself, Pearls, and Freak Me Now, where she can go from powerful and theatrical to sultry and seductive. Towards the end of the album, there is a return to her earlier style with watery synths and an R&B beat on the track Running. On Lightning, her delicate and breathy voice takes center stage over shuffling rhythms, cascading horns, and smooth strings. These Lips is led by her luxurious bedroom purr, accompanied by a groovy clavinet.
Jessie Ware truly shines on the Latin-inspired disco track “Begin Again,” delivering her most confident and powerful vocals to date as she reaches her highest register towards the song’s climax. With lyrics such as “Give me something good that exceeds my expectations” and “Is this all there is to life?” she expresses a desire for something more fulfilling and meaningful. The chorus reflects her questioning of whether this is the beginning or end of her journey and if there is a chance to start over. If the outcome of starting fresh is as carefree, enjoyable, and satisfying as “That! Feels Good!”, then it seems like Jessie Ware has found the perfect formula.
Source: theguardian.com
