Singer, guitarist and songwriter Brittany Howard’s second album What Now is a dense, expansive and experimental R’nB/future-soul collection that confidently incorporates the soothing wash of sound bowls and grinding rock guitar elements with equal aplomb. Howard updates the sweet Chicago soul sound of the Chi Lites et al on “I Don’t,” serves supa-bad post-Sault raw dance floor soul with “What Now,” before the fevered clattering talking drums and big vocal arrangement of jaw-dropping celestial R’nB wig out “Red Flags.” Then she leaves most of her aching lullaby “To Be Still” starkly empty save for her guitar and reverbed vocal, while gorgeous nocturnal dark ballad Samson incorporates the loneliest trumpet flourishes as it unfurls into a simmering jazzy after-hours instrumental. Oh, and she also casually includes contemporary 4/4 club track “Prove It To You,” a song seemingly composed entirely of vocal hooks. It’s all linked together by lingering atonal chimes and hums provided by sound bath practitioners Ann Sensing and Ramona Reid, who appear on nearly every track, linking the disparate musical elements together. What Now is big, confident, uncompromising and also vulnerable, soft and tender, full of lovely melodic moments, hybrid production surprises and a hint of soul magic too.