- Sampha Sisay has been a presence in the UK underground for some time, having collaborated with the likes of SBTRKT and Jessie Ware. But it was only last year that he stepped into the solo limelight with Dual, an EP of modern soul in which Sisay revelled in his vulnerabilities, whether emotional or sonic. That in mind, it makes sense that Drake, the man who has turned male vulnerability into a global brand, brought the Young Turks stalwart on board for his recent LP Nothing Was The Same—a demo of "Too Much" forms the chorus on the track of the same name.
This 7-inch, which features the full version of Sampha's original plus a new song, "Happens," feels like an attempt to capitalise on the ensuing interest. Where Dual derived much of its charm from unusual studio arrangements, these are barebones piano-and-voice tracks, recorded in what sounds like a couple of brief sessions. This isn't a criticism per se—after all, you'd be a fool not to court the Drake fanbase while it's looking your way, and great records have been made with less. But these tracks might have benefitted from a bit more attention. The chorus of "Too Much" is lovely—this much we know already. Unfortunately the full version doesn't get much further. "Happens" is better—it's more structurally involved, and Sisay's voice sounds more assured. It's probably the absence of Sampha's vision as a producer that makes both tracks a mild disappointment. But as an advert for the other two thirds of his talents—his songwriting, simple but affecting, and his voice, plaintive without ever indulging in self-pity—they are wholly adequate.
TracklistA Too Much
B Happens