Svengali

Intense, sparkling and absolutely exuding lyrical and musical energy moment for moment, Cakes Da Killa’s highly anticipated 2022 album Svengali easily delivered, his vocal skills a flowing cascade that varies it up at just the right moments (when both he and the music pull back just a bit on “Luv Me Not”’s bridge it suddenly gets even more sensual and immediate). Pre-release singles like “W4TN” and “Drugs du Jour” slide into a sequence of house bangers; short interstitials like “Mirror Mirror” and “Sub Song” add to the sense of chaotic obsession.