The Weeknd returned to the music fold with the delivery of his fifth studio album Dawn FM.
Dawn FM review: Is this the radio station we never knew we needed?
On this outing, The Weeknd brings programmatic arrangement to album tracklisting. The sonic escapade traverses from hard-pinging synths reminiscent of the 80s to urban-esque slow jams.
On the title track, veteran actor Jim Carrey introduces the day’s programme with claptrapping radio DJ talk, nudging at his listeners to get ready to kickstart the day at dawn as they’ve “been in the dark for way too long.”
This sets off a series of toxic sonic experiences, bringing out the best of The Weeknd’s signature themes, where he imparts his misogyny in our earlobes using soothing vocal notes that skate along riffing synths.
Take My Breath is the new soundtrack to coke-binge escapades and Sacrifice will make for an ideal NSA pitch from men who are in no way interested in being pinned down by monogamy.
The Dawn FM programme breaks away from the dance scene on Track 6, where A Tale of Quincy, narrated by the legendary Quincy Jones, brings forth a side to The Weeknd we have rarely seen.
Out of Time, Best Friends, and Here We Go… Again featuring Tyler, The Creator, contain subtle notes of a Weeknd who is… vulnerable? After all, the Canadian crooner has a… conscience? This twilight dissipates on Starry Eyes, when he returns to his signature sound in an aggressive way.
Considering the ease in which Dawn FM weaves from track-to-track, this could be one of The Weeknd’s most pleasant albums to listen to.
2022 surely has kicked off in a massive way and releases that follow will have a near-unattainable benchmark to reach.
How to download The Weeknd new album
The Weeknd’s new album Dawn FM dropped on every digital streaming platform, on Friday. The 16-track project can be streamed below:
