British singer Jessie Ware releases a feel-good album with ‘That! Feels Good!’ that will leave you in awe. From start to finish, Ware takes you on a musical journey filled with swing, funk, disco, soul, R&B, and pop. It’s an absolute delight to listen to.
‘That! Feels Good!’ is Jessie Ware’s fifth album. For years, the singer has been producing music with a hint of soul and R&B, but this time, the focus is more on disco and funk than ever before. It’s inspired by the sounds of “Remember Where You Are,” a track from her previous album, ‘What’s Your Pleasure?’. It’s easy to hear echoes of bands like Chic and Sister Sledge on this new album.
Ware announced the album with the single ‘Free Yourself,’ a fantastic disco track that sounds like it was made in the 1970s. The infectious song, especially due to the drums, playful piano, and Ware’s strong vocals, has been the perfect introduction to the album. On ‘That! Feels Good!,’ it is indeed one of the highlights. For Ware herself, as self-love is a theme she does not shy away from, not even now. So, it’s sultry 1970s disco, but no, it’s from the 21st century.
Jessie Ware – ‘That! Feels Good!’ is Female disco
Jessie Ware drew inspiration from female disco legends like Chaka Khan and Donna Summer, and it shows. Not only does the album musically resemble something these powerhouses could have created, but vocally, Ware comes close. That’s quite an achievement. Ware can rightfully be called the disco queen of the 21st century.
The energetic rhythms and groovy basslines complete this album. However, it’s not all purely disco. Ware also excels on soulful tracks like ‘Hello Love,’ ‘Begin Again,’ and ‘Lightning.’ But the funk remains ever-present. These provide nice alternations amidst the energetic disco beats.
The title track, ‘That! Feels Good!,’ is the album’s opener. With a bassline that Nile Rodgers would envy, Ware shapes the album from the very first notes, both musically and thematically. As previously mentioned, Ware doesn’t shy away from exploring sexual themes in her lyrics. This is precisely the message of this song and the album: love yourself and free yourself, because that feels good.
She takes up this personal theme and doesn’t let go. Ware doesn’t hide the meaning of her lyrics either, unlike what was often done in the 1970s. Songs like ‘Freak Me Now’ and ‘Shake The Bottle’ leave no room for doubt. Ware’s music can rightfully be called sexy disco.
This is already the fifth album by Jessie Ware, who is still relatively unknown in the Netherlands, but this might and perhaps should be her breakthrough. No one can stay still while listening to this feel-good music, whether it’s the infectious drums or the synthesizers. Ware and her producers have put ‘That! Feels Good!’ together almost perfectly. Listening is highly recommended because: That! Feels Good!
