FLOOD

This hypnotic, 85-minute opus which Abel Tesfaye claims will be the final statement from his long-running moniker may be his biggest bonfire to his vanities—that is, until it flames out.

The NYC-based rapper’s ninth solo album toes the line between lo-fi, soul, jazz, and ambient electronics, adding a newfound sense of resolve to the grief explored on recent release.

Created in tribute to his friendship with producer Dave Ferguson, the youthful energy they channel together works well for a no-frills country record that gets so much done with so little.