Black Atlass, Dream Awake | Album Review 💿

Canadian-bred, LA-based R&B musician Black Atlass delivers an enjoyable, sexy, and well-rounded third album with Dream Awake.

In 2018, Canadian-bred, LA-based musician Alex Fleming, better known as Black Atlass, released his sophomore album, Pain & Pleasure.  Signed with XO, a subsidiary of Republic co-founded by The Weeknd, unsurprisingly, Fleming possesses many vocal similarities to him.

After a two-year hiatus, Fleming returned with a compelling new single, “Lie to Me”, which ultimately served as preface and promo to his third album, Dream Awake, which arrived April 3, 2020.  The resulting project is an enjoyable, sexy, and well-rounded contemporary R&B album.

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“Never Enough”

“All I need is your touch / Somehow it’s never enough / All I need is your touch / I give you all that I’ve got.” On opening ballad ✓ “Never Enough,” Black Atlass shows off his expressive, radiant tone.  His falsetto in particular is incredibly ripe – it sounds like sex on the track. Fleming is supported by smooth, lush production courtesy of DANNYBOYSTYLES and Oligee. “Never Enough” is a fine start to Dream Awake and definitely a vibe.

Follow up ✓ “Do for Love” keeps the momentum going.  Fleming continues to impress vocally, particularly on the agile pre-chorus and chorus sections.  The excellence of his tone and the overall quality of his voice simply can’t be overstated.  On this short but sweet and relatable record, the chorus is particularly catchy, as Alex expresses the lengths he’ll go to when it comes to love.

On ✓ “Night After Night” the vibe continues to pop, with more sleek AF production from DANNYBOYSTYLES and Oligee. I love how this record uses an electronic-based backdrop (keyboards, synths, programming), while still remaining idiomatic of R&B, particularly that stellar Canadian R&B sound. Fleming remains consistent and continues to build this sensual script, ‘bringing it on home’ on the chorus.

“…I know you wanna feel alive, don’t you?
Night after night (Night after night)
Night after night (Night after night).”

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“Sin City”

“Head in, I’m gassin’ on 95, I’ve been / Whippin’ the Wraith into overdrive, I am…” From the start, ✓ “Sin City” has a dark, utterly sinful vibe. Even as he sings over enigmatic synths and punchy drums, Black Atlass still manages to sound ‘angelic’ – well, as far as his vocal skill is concerned.  He’s certainly not innocent, particularly on the second verse, which sounds even sketchier than the first. “Don’t stop baby, it’s here for us to take / We don’t fuck around, we don’t have no time to wait,” he sings, continuing, “Use this pain I got, and I trust in fate.”  Ooh la-la – sinful!

✓ “Lie to Me” has no shortage of pros.  Again, DANNYBOYSTYLES and Oligee give Black Atlass a mighty backdrop to paint his colorful, expressive, and sexy vocal upon.  That includes lush keys, synths, and anchoring beat.  Throw in a minor-key, and the vibe is absolutely electrifying. Once more, Fleming paints his stellar vocals atop a superb backdrop, continuing to showcase vocal similarities to The Weeknd, namely his flawless, continually rip falsetto. The listener is most blessed on the chorus.

In addition to the chorus, there are plenty of alluring moments regarding songwriting.  He’s experiencing heartbreak, and, as he sees his ex, well, he doesn’t want to know about her current relationship.  Therefore, she should LIE.  Clearly, he’s still in love with her. Fleming admits he is the blame for their break-up on the second verse, admitting “I fucked this up / You know I can be brave / I can be kind / I can be yours / Just give me time…”

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“By My Side”

✓ “By My Side” features the sole collaboration on Dream Awake alongside Sonia. The result of the second single is a contemporary R&B single with ample pop sensibility.  Black Atlass dominates the first part of the song, with Sonia providing contrast on the second verse and pre-chorus.  They join forces beautifully and energetically on the following chorus, pretty much through the end, exhibiting fine vocal chemistry – their voices just mesh well.

“Show Me” kicks off the second half of Dream Awake, in the form of a moody, sleek ballad. Hey, that’s when Black Atlass is at his best.  Notably, he sings more in his lower and middle register where he’s equally effective even if his falsetto is his calling card.  Adding to the – wait for it – vibe are the numerous production cues, vocal effects (distortion included), and of course, the focus on matters of the heart. Another moody bop follows on “On Your Mind,” with its superb groove and electric rhythmic guitar (at least that’s what it sounds like).  The keyboards and programming here continue to compel as does Fleming. Love dominates his thoughts, as it does throughout Dream Awake.  On the chorus, he has a question:

“I wanna know
I wanna know, when love’s behind your eyes
Is it me that’s on your mind?
Secrets that you hide
Let me try
To see if I can find
All that you desire.”

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“Weak” 

“Weak,” the ninth track from Dream Awake, clocks in shy of three minutes.  Brief it may be, it’s a record that certainly sexy as hell.  On the second verse, Fleming coolly sings, “Only had you a couple times / But you’re my fuckin’ star / I don’t wanna close my eyes / While I’m watchin’ you perform.” The chorus is simple and repetitive, but he nails his ‘weakness’ when singing in that falsetto… damn.  Follow up “Drip” also keeps things short, sweet, and sexy AF.  The vocals are buttery smooth and incredibly tender, over a lush backdrop.  What more could you ask for from a contemporary R&B record?

Following the lovely instrumental penultimate cut “Lavender,” Black Atlass closes out Dream Awake with the slow, rhythmic ballad “Close Your Eyes.”  Once more, his tone is gorgeous, even as he’s less dependent on falsetto.  Again, when you think Black Atlass, his vocal similarities to The Weeknd and his falsetto come to mind instantly, but here is another instance where he’s potent sans ‘head voice.’

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Final Thoughts 

All in all, Dream Awake is an enjoyable, well-rounded third album from Black Atlass.  As stated above a countless number of times, what makes Dream Awake so effective are top-rate vocals, top-notch production, and the overall vibe.  The album does have some gems when it comes to songs, but what strikes more are the three things I just stated.  Will Dream Awake be a R&B album we remember for years from now? I wouldn’t go that far to call it transcendent, but it’s definitely well put together.

✓ Gems: “Never Enough,” “Do for Love,” “Night After Night,” “Sin City,” “Lie to Me” & “By My Side”

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Black Atlass • Dream Awake • XO / Republic • Release: 4.3.20

Photo Credits: XO / Republic

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