From the opening notes of ‘Earth Sign’ you can hear that the following 40 minutes of music is going to be special. Brittany Howard deservedly emerged from being one of Rock’s most engaging frontwomen to become a shining solo star on debut Jaime. I loved the way that record defied the listener’s expectations at every moment and What Now is that taken to a new level. It’s a daring, chaotic and fantastic album.
The most obvious praise I can give What Now is that it feels like a complete body of work instead of individualised songs. I can pick out the energy of ‘Red Flags’, the soul of ‘To Be Still’ or the quiet emotion of ‘Samson’ but all of those songs work within the context of the whole record more than they would separately. An amazing thing to say about an album that jumps between genres like it’s nothing.
There’s a subtle drone and chiming sound that bookmarks most of the tracks here, like I’m meditating and it tunes me into a new place again. It makes for an album that sounds like it’s constantly moving forwards, not all over the place like it could easily feel like.
Those single tracks constantly feel like high points though, ‘Prove It To You’ is an electronic dance banger full of Brittany’s soulful vocals and emotive lyricism. Lyrically this album continues the stunning work we heard on Jaime, so personal and effortless. ‘I don’t know how I’m gonna tell the truth, I’m split in two, I can’t get used to being who you need me to choose’ on ‘Samson’ is so delicate and deeply layered. This is a musician’s dream of an album too though, that same song takes on this outpouring of improvised jazz in its second half and leaves a lasting impression.
What Now is an album where not a moment is wasted, songs develop and change, melding into the next with each ding of chimes. On first listen it could easily be a lot to take in, such a diverse and thrilling album being a relatively standard length for an album makes the initial experience feel exhausting, but I’ve found in the weeks spent with What Now this album only gets better on every listen.
Every listen I find myself going, oh this is my new favourite track. ‘Power To Undo’? Recalls early Alabama Shakes in the best way. The vocals on ‘Every Color in Blue’? Stratospheric. The title track’s energy? Unmatched. ‘I Don’t’’s emotional vocal line? Some of the best lyrics I’ve heard in years. Every moment is essential and seemingly better than the track before it.
Brittany Howard shows how powerful she is as a musician, a person and an artist on What Now. I immediately knew I enjoyed this album, but the more time I’ve sat with it and let it wash over me the more special I think this is. Jaime was a fantastic record, but What Now feels like a classic.
Words by Sam Atkins
Picky Bastards 
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