With Kaleidoscope Dream in 2012 and above all the grandiose Wildheart of 2015, Miguel Jontel Pimentel alias Miguel broke into the big leagues. His alloy of soul and soft funk with traces of rock or techno drove the Californian to the sides of Frank Ocean, Prince and even Marvin Gaye…
This time round, the Californian is more languorous than ever, for a smoother and more sensual album. Sexy too, like on Pineapple Skies for which he has aptly borrowed the melody from Marvin Gaye's Sexual Healing. The appearances by Rick Ross on Criminal, Travis Scott on Sky Walker and J. Cole on Come Through And Chill make the whole thing even more tantalising. But the record's real surprise is without a doubt Miguel's social engagement.
Born to a Mexican father and an African-American mother, the man with mixed heritage takes some pot-shots at the Trump presidency, which is silencing those it represents. For all that, War & Leisure is no What’s Going On but Miguel owed it to himself to work in such a context, even if his music is often synonymous with luxury, evanescence, sex and decadence. This fourth album offers the perfect balance between mainstream soul and a more underground groove. A few weeks ago, Miguel was invited to Stephen Colbert's Late Show on CBS where he performed Sky Walker and Come Through And Chill :
To follow everything happening here at Qobuz, join us on Facebook!
