Album Review: Solange - True

True is the '80s-inspired mini-album from Solange – best known for being Beyoncé's little sis, she has made a concerted effort to free herself from the 'big pop' world in recent years... After leaving leaving Interscope in 2009 to go independent, she has teamed up with the multi-faceted Devonté Hynes (Blood Orange) for this little collection of R&B, new-wave pop songs. This lass is cool.

Opener and first single Losing You throws straight into the quirk that's evident throughout, with jungle-esque beats and emotive lyrical familiarity. Some Things Never Seem To Fucking Work simple, polished production, but its grit pushes past the '80s pop-ballad trench. The subtly sexy Don't Let Me Down is magnetic with its heavy drum and bass lines and Bad Girls gives a solid nod to Prince.

True doesn't stretch far from its slow-to-mid-tempo range and next time we want Solange to offer something more up-tempo in her post-pop phase, just for variety. It does prove that there is light at the end of the mostly mundane R&B/dance/electro tunnel.