Album Review: Ella Mai's self-titled debut

At 23, Ella Mai can warble like Mariah Carey, deliver soft ballads like Alicia Keys and write lyrics on the highs and lows of love that could grace a Beyoncé album. Tracks like 'Boo'd Up', 'Gut Feeling' and 'Trip' are all pleasingly old school. However, it can be hard to separate Mai from her influences.

'Dangerous' describes an imperfect but positive relationship very evocatively: "I'm like the bullet to your gun / It still feels like we have just begun." With a rap verse by Jay-Z, it would fit fantastically on his and Queen Bee's The Carters LP.

The record's most poppy song 'Whatchamacallit', juxtaposes its simple, sweet sound with dark lyrics, about having an affair. Points are lost for featuring Chris Brown.

However, distinctive moments are few and far between on what are derivative sounding tracks. It does not help that with 16 songs and rather pointless spoken word interludes, the record outstays its welcome. On 'Sauce', Mai brags about having too much style and swagger. She needs to show more of it next time out.

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