Kassa Overall is a welcome addition to the forward thinking Warp Records roster looking to take things even further. With an impressive list of collaborators and credits under his belt, the NYC by way of Seattle artist merges jazz, beats, rap, and his virtuosic drumming, getting personal and even more irreverent of genres on his third album ANIMALS.

Kassa Overall’s restless and experimental approach to jazz is one that keeps you guessing. ‘Ready To Ball’ opens with a series of clipped false starts, revealing themselves to be an ephemeral groove dipping in between slick, freeform verses, and winding alleys of glistening, icy piano keys. This free spiritedness speaks to the album’s themes of “embodying one’s natural self in the public eye”, refusing to conform to any convention despite the pressure. While life’s troubles weigh down on ‘Make My Way Back Home’, they are met with anthemic performances: the flourishes of saxophones, synths, and flutes atop a syrupy bassline.

‘Clock Ticking’ lays heavy on the anxious, frosty atmosphere, with cautious piano notes scurrying, blown out clockwork and hazed cymbals to match the slurred feeling of “blowing that strong”. Forceful block chords stomp through ‘So Happy’, a waltz of fire between dramatic strings and vocals from Laura Mvula and Francis And The Lights while beds of deep strings are uprooted by a storm of drums on ‘Going Up’, a cathartic closer featuring Shabazz Palaces and a nonchalantly heartfelt verse from Lil B (yes, THE Based God) over swelling romantic strings and dextrous saxophone lines.

Kassa Overall’s third album ANIMALS is a kaleidoscope of collaborators, styles, and presentation rooted in his distinct jazz and rap flavours.