Jessie Ware‘s debut LP Devotion was easily one of last year’s best albums.
Now, after signing with Cherrytree Records here in the US late last year, the soulful songstress is gearing up to make a stateside splash, leading up to the North American release of Devotion on April 16. To sweeten the deal, the album’s (re-) release will contain two new tracks: “Wildest Moments” featuring A$AP Rocky, as well as a brand new track: “Imagine It Was Us,” which just premiered on Annie Mac‘s BBC Radio 1 show last Friday.
The new cut was crafted by House DJ/producer Julio Bashmore, who collaborated with Jessie on several tracks for the record, including “Running,” “Sweet Talk” (a favorite!) and “110%”, which was confusingly retitled “If You’re Never Gonna Move” for a US release earlier this year.
Unlike the Sade-esque, slow dance-friendly sound of the bulk of Devotion, “Imagine It Was Us” sees Jessie dipping her toes onto the dance floor and cooing atop bouncy disco throbs and a warm ’90’s House beat, journeying somewhere closer toward Róisín Murphy and Hercules & Love Affair territory. (Heaven!)
To no one’s surprise, it’s a brilliant decision: “Are you waiting for something? Tell me, would you wait all night?” Ware seductively teases. The song offers the same spiritual healing as her slower sizzlers, yet packs in enough of a pulse to keep those feet racing as quickly as our hearts.
A hint of what’s next? Going Donna Summer for Album #2? We wouldn’t be mad one bit.
Fire this one off to your DJ friends and get thee to a discotheque–it’s essential.
Devotion will be released on April 16 in the US. (iTunes)