Lento

There is no denying Youn’s exceptional vocal ability and training. She is a virtuoso, no if’s or buts about it. With that said, she sings jazz and blues and she’s almost too good, too clean. I like my blues to come with a rasp, with an emotional hitch in the vibrato. With that in mind, I like Youn best when she steps away from soulful, tasteful bluesy ballads, and leaning into more experimental, powerful tunes. Lento isn’t all that experimental, but the collab with Lars Danielsson, Ulf Wakenius and others make the record come across as energetic and brash, which I prefer. It’s not that she can’t do blues, the cover of Jockey full of Burbon is a masterpiece, but the softer stuff often comes across as a vocal exercise rather than a heart rendering ballad.