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Reflection (Loraine James album)

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Reflection
Studio album by
Released4 June 2021
GenreElectronic
Length45:40
LabelHyperdub
ProducerLoraine James
Loraine James chronology
Nothing EP
(2020)
Reflection
(2021)
Whatever the Weather
(2022)

Reflection is the second album by London-based electronic musician Loraine James, released through Hyperdub in June 2021, which has been met with critical acclaim. It follows James' 2020 Nothing EP.

Composition

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While Reflection is mostly an exploration of "heartfelt" electronica,[1] it also quotes elements from drill music, R&B, techno, and more.[1][2]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?8.3/10[3]
Metacritic86/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
Beats Per Minute82%[5]
Crack Magazine8/10[6]
Mojo[2]
Pitchfork7.9/10[7]
PopMatters10/10[1]

Reflection has received positive reviews. On Metacritic, it holds a score of 86 out of 100, indicating "universal acclaim", based on nine reviews.[4]

Tom Morgan for PopMatters lauded the record as "a work of seductive, heartfelt brilliance", noting that James is "at the absolute peak of her powers." He gave the album a 10 out of 10 rating.[1]

Stephen Worthy of Mojo described the album's tracks as James' "genre-bending confessionals that balance truth with hope." He added that as an "endlessly inventive album," Reflections "sets a noteworthy template for modern British electronic music", notably for being "a succession of counterpoints."[2]

While AllMusic noted that "Reflection doesn't quite have the shock of the new that For You and I did", the online database admitted that "its best moments are still powerful" and that "it would be impossible to mistake the album for anyone else's perspective."[8]

Accolades

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Reflection on year-end lists
Publication List Rank Ref.
Pitchfork The 50 Best Albums of 2021
39

Track listing

[edit]
Reflection track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Built to Last"2:17
2."Lets Go"3:41
3."Simple Stuff"3:27
4."Black Ting"4:17
5."Insecure Behaviour and Fuckery"5:00
6."Self Doubt (Leaving the Club Early)"4:34
7."On the Lake Outside"4:51
8."Reflection"3:31
9."Change"7:12
10."Running Like That"4:19
11."We're Building Something New"2:32
Total length:45:40

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Tom Morgan (1 June 2021). "Loraine James: Reflection". PopMatters. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Mojo 07.21". Internet Archive. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  3. ^ "Reflection by Loraine James reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for Reflection - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  5. ^ Jasper Willems (10 June 2021). "Album Review: Loraine James - Reflection". Beats Per Minute. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  6. ^ Jemima Skala. "Loraine James - 'Reflection' review". Crack Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  7. ^ Philip Sherburne. "Loraine James: Reflection Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  8. ^ Reflection - Loraine James | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic, retrieved 2 October 2021
  9. ^ Adjei-Kontoh, Hubert (7 December 2021). "The 50 Best Albums of 2021". Pitchfork. Retrieved 7 December 2021.