rei brown, Xeno | Album Review 💿

Japanese, queer, alt-pop artist rei brown impresses on his debut album, Xeno, showcasing ample potential and innovative spirit. 

Ah, there’s an emerging musician you need to know about. His name is 🎙 rei brown and he is incredibly gifted! The Japanese, queer, alt-pop artist based in New York released his debut album, 💿 Xeno (short for xenophobia), on July 8, 2022 (yeah, a little late to the party serving up the review, sorry rei).  Brown describes Xeno as an album that explores the otherness he’s felt throughout his life – woo! The single that turned me onto Brown and Xeno was 🎵 “Thinking Bout You”, which serves as one of many highlights.  From start to finish, brown brings ample musical goodness that more folks need to be listening to and talking about.  Dive into Xeno with me, won’t ya?

“Xeno”

“I hear you laughing at me with the echoes right behind me / I feel the air around me and you gaze upon my body (help me out).” 🤩 🎵 “Xeno” brilliantly sets the tone.  The intro with the rhythm guitar is a nice touch.  Soon enough, a simple groove is added to the mix, in all its glory. Brown sings incredibly poised during the verses. Even given his subtlety, the timbre of his voice is stunning. Also playing a sizable role is lovely vocal production. Brown rises to the occasion in the memorable chorus, which is thoughtful and tuneful. The final iteration is epic with the addition of distorted guitar:

“What am I made of

That you’re afraid of?

Am I contagious?

I wanna wake up.”

“Xeno” captures both loneliness and xenophobia that he’s experienced. Follow-up 🎵 “Neptune” continues the excellence of Xeno.  There are more beautiful, poised but potent vocals by rei brown.  The sound of his upper register is to die for. The production is another selling point, specifically the guitar ostinato and banging beat.  Also, shout out that vocal production once more!  The vocal arrangement during the chorus shines, especially as Brown surprises, dipping into his lower register. The verses possess a rhythmic melody, particularly the second verse, which distinguishes itself from the first. Once more, there’s a tuneful chorus. Short but sweet, “Neptune” is a total vibe.

“Waiting For You” 

In 🎵 “Waiting For You,” Brown sings in his middle register initially. No worries, as we get more of that awesome upper register during the pre-chorus and chorus 😉. Once more, the production is slick, filled with some awesome musical cues and touches.  Although shorter, it’s no problem as brown continues to bring his A game.  Playful instrumental touches conclude the record.  🎵 “When I Fall Asleep” also doesn’t belabor things.  Some highlights include the quick tempo, animated beat, and rhythm guitar. Brown again exhibits modesty and subtlety while singing. Gradually, he incorporates some more ad-libs and expands to more assertive vocals.  The variety of vocal effects incorporated is cool. Stylistically, the experimental nature gives hyperpop vibes.

“Barely made my flight, we were up all night / Now I’m thinking ‘bout you.” Oh, the feels! In the intriguing single, 🤩 🎵 “Thinking Bout You”, Brown gets an assist from Japanese-Australian musician, 🎙 Joji with stellar results. Brown is the first voice heard, smoothly delivering the chorus with some cool effects.  He sets the tone of this song about missing significant others. “I wrote my part mostly in the context of a long-distance relationship,” he asserts, continuing, “There are hints in it that suggest it takes place in a different more sci-fi reality.” During his verse, we get ‘standard’ vocals, contrasting the ‘spacier’ chorus, addressing the said relationship.  “It’s never easy to leave you / … You can bet that I bleed too, take me back to the shore,” he sings poetically.  Joji provides a stark contrast in the second verse, vocally, addressing distance from his own perspective: “Made me look the other way / No longer summer days / They see it in my face / I know it’s just a graze / They got me in a maze / And I hope it’s just a phase.” Also contributing to the vibe of this record is 🎛 Holz, who produces with brown. “Thinking Bout You” speaks volumes.

“Solar” 

🤩 🎵 “Solar” keeps things on the up and up. It all starts with the awesome production cues during the intro, which set up a ‘solar’ experience.  There’s brilliant contrast during the chorus including vocal effects and additional musical cues.  Notably, the “Ooh, ooh… / I’m alive, I’ma show you I’m alive, yeah” is one of the more intriguing moments – you just have to hear it! Also, can I just say, Brown’s melisma is captivating… Once more, the experimental pop vibes keep on coming, in all their glory.  🤩 🎵 “r u gonna love me?” keeps the hits coming too! It starts with lush production during the intro, which is utterly sublime. Soon enough, we get a definite groove established with rhythmic guitar and beat. I like the fact that brown is more assertive here. He still doesn’t force things, but he brings a bit more oomph from the get-go. The chorus is simple but quite infectious (“And are you gonna love me, are you gonna love me, are you gonna love me right? / and are you gonna hold me, are you gonna hold me tight”).

🎵 “Hyperstition” keeps things short – less than two minutes.  Nevertheless, the concept of this song is cool, and, more pronounced superstition! The lyrics are exceptional; creative and clearly ‘outer space.’  There’s also another magnificent chorus, performed in falsetto:

“What if all pain is perennial?

I don’t wanna lay in a burial

Take me to a plane that’s ethereal

I would rather be immaterial…”

“Haunt Me” 

“I was in control; I’d been healing on my own / ‘Til I saw the cold eerie glow from a call on my phone.”  Yep, that’s enough to completely stifle progress in getting over a breakup.  Brown’s reinstated anxiety and pain from the end of a relationship is the focus of 🤩 🎵 “Haunt Me”, one of the premiere songs from Xeno. “And like a séance I felt your presence,” brown continues singing, “It’s like you slipped in through the seams of all my dreams / tried to forget you…” This reemergence has thrown him off – haunted him.  In the chorus, he sums up these feelings perfectly, making them universally relatable:

“Why do you haunt me? Pulling me back

Tryna get flames from a burnt-out match

Making me sad, keep picking these scabs

Nothing you do is gonna bring me back.”

Even though his ex is ‘trying him,’ and certainly getting under his skin, brown holds tough with that final lyric of the chorus.  While it’s unfortunate that he’s being haunted by the past, had he not been bothered by his ex, would we have been given this radiant ballad?

🎵 “If You Let Me Go” has a tough act to follow. It maintains the consistency of Xeno. Production remains a pro. It also doesn’t hurt that this is more of a traditional pop song.  Give brown credit for another emotionally charged, tuneful chorus.  As he does for most of Xeno, he’s more calm, cool, and collected during the verses, packing more punch during the chorus.  His falsetto shines once more. 🎵 “White Honda” taps 🎙 Lecx Stacy for the assist. Pros include the guitar accompaniment, which hits a high during the chorus.  Also, the change of pace when Stacy performs is rewarding.  Also, shout out the drum programming, which goes H.A.M. I love the aesthetic of “White Honda.”

“Centauri”

The homestretch of Xeno is impressive. 🤩 🎵 “Centauri” is two and a half minutes of sweetness! I love the exuberance of the sound.  Brown’s vocals remain light but expressive.  Furthermore, we get some sexy vibes – ooh-la-la: “We turn on your Atari / We play super Ferrari / I’m pressed against your body / I’m feeling kind of naughty / You lost the game, I’m sorry / I can’t help you, you’re a hottie…”  Yes, Rei!

🤩 🎵 “Could I Be Somebody” follows, running nearly four minutes in duration. The record features more top-notch production, another strong vocal from brown, and more magnificent vocal production. The chorus, expectedly, packs more punch with more driving cues (rhythmic synths + more dynamic). The theme is given away by the title where brown asks this person, could you love me – is this the real thing?

🤩 🎵 “EZ” features an energetic piano groove from the onset that is #GIVING.  Furthermore, it’s a welcome change of pace. Even though brown has a danceable backdrop supporting him, he doesn’t drastically alter his overall vibe.  Still, he shows more personality. The cool vocals stun, as does the infectious hook: “Call me on the phone, please leave a message at the tone / ‘Cause I’m EZ, EZ.” Xeno also concludes respectably and enjoyably with 🎵 “Dosey Doe.”  The vocals are ear-catching (a very unique sound). The melody is quite beautiful, something that’s consistently on-point throughout Xeno.  Also, it should come as no surprise that “Dosey Doe” is another production showcase.

Final Thoughts 💭

All in all, rei brown brings the heat on Xeno.  While brown never wows you with gospel histrionics, his cooler vocal approach is charming and incredibly effective.  His experimentation also helps make Xeno one of the more alluring efforts of 2022.  Even when brown leaves the realms of more straightforward, traditional pop, there’s always a tuneful chorus to be found.  Xeno is an impressive debut.

🤩 Gems 💎: “Xeno,” “Thinking Bout You,” “Solar,” “r u gonna love me?,” “Haunt Me,” “Centauri,” “Could I Be Somebody” & “EZ”

🎙 rei brown • 💿 Xeno • 🏷 Jimaku Super • 🗓 7.8.22

[📷: Jimaku Super]