Thundercat – It Is What It Is [Brainfeeder; April 2020]

Stephen Lee Burner, a.k.a. Thundercat, released his fourth studio album this year and it satiates the needs of those with a taste for old school soul, funk and jazz whilst remaining contemporary. The bassist-singer-songwriter uses his talents to reflect upon different existential crises including the loss of his friend, rapper Mac Miller.

Grief is complex, therefore a welcome aspect to this project, that is also one of its common critiques, is how quickly Thundercat fluctuates between emotional states. It may seem less cohesive than is ideal but in a lot of ways it is more realistic, approaching his darker subjects with a sharp sense of humour.

Matthew Wagaine