Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good!

Jessie Ware has had a whirlwind few years, with a string of Brit nominations and a Mercury Prize nomination for her debut record Devotion. Her blend of soul, disco and pop is infectious and has earned high praise. Following the success of 2020’s What’s Your Pleasure, Ware’s fifth studio album, That! Feels Good!, has not only garnered highly positive reviews but is being singled out as one of Ware’s best to date.

The title track is a throwback to disco grooves of the past and an energising number, sure to make you want to get up and dance with its elements of Prince and Chic. Free Yourself begins with an upbeat piano intro, gradually pulling in other elements, with Ware’s vocals carrying an immense amount of power. This is a trend across the album – Ware’s vocals doing much of the heavy lifting – but her voice is more than up to the task.

Hello Love is a slight departure from the earlier sounds on the record, with more jazz elements in the background, demonstrating the range of genres Ware is able to incorporate into her sound. It’s a gorgeous number that is one of the album’s standouts. Begin Again is the longest track, at just under five and a half minutes, and brings in a range of styles that interweave perfectly and bring contagious energy.

Freak Me Now recalls 90s dancefloor fillers from the likes of Jamiroquai but still sounds distinctively like Jessie Ware and is again irresistible like so much of this LP.

That! Feels Good! is perfect for the summer and nights out, dripping top to bottom with irrepressible grooves that sound retro and futuristic. Much like Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia, this record shows that disco is alive and kicking with a 2020s twist. There is no misstep across the ten tracks, resulting in one of the best albums of the year so far. As we move into the festival season, these songs will surely sound incredible on outdoor stages and in more intimate live settings alike.

Christopher Connor

That! Feels Good! is released on 28^th April 2023. For further information or to order the album visit Jessie Ware’s website here.

Watch the video for the single Begin Again here: