by Angus

More a companion–piece mixtape to 2018’s ‘Negro Swan’ than an outright album, Angel’s Pulse scans as a series of vignettes to accompany the aforementioned album, to bookend it with a degree of hope. It’s the sound of the lived events of a thirty–something gay black man living in modern day America, his thoughts, emotions and experiences laid out against a musical backdrop of modern R&B and neo–soul.

There’s also laments for friends passed and ruminations on a presently ultra–political America. But chiefly, Angel’s Pulse stands as a collection of sketches recorded all around the world, and that’s exactly how it sounds. It’s not intended to be especially cohesive but more like a 32 minute series of diary entries, a look inside Devonte Hynes’ mind.

A small preview from Spotify

1. "I Wanna C U" (1:14)
2. "Something to Do" (0:51)
3. "Dark & Handsome" (2:33)
4. "Benzo" (2:30)
5. "Birmingham" (1:33)
6. "Good for You" (2:22)
7. "Baby Florence (Figure)" (2:57)
8. "Gold Teeth" (3:01)
9. "Berlin" (1:58)
10. "Tuesday Feeling (Choose to Stay)" (2:57)
11. "Seven Hours Part 1" (2:40)
12. "Take It Back" (4:22)
13. "Happiness" (2:09)
14. "Today" (1:19)