About Kayode Kendall
Location: Oxon Hill, Maryland
Occupation: Writer
Bio: Kayode "KenKRK" Kendall has written for various websites over the last six years, and now serves as PopSyndicate's music editor.
Posts: 45
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Six years is a long time to wait, but it’s worth it if the music is good.
Hard to believe it’s been six years since Supreme Beings of Leisure graced us with their signature brand of sultry electronic lounge music, but 11i sees the duo return stronger and sexier than ever. Despite having come to appreciate their sophomore effort, Divine Operating System, I still found it to be a fairly disappointing follow-up given the near-perfection of their self-titled debut. If I had to compare, I’d say it was something akin to Connery’s James Bond attending a party at the Playboy Mansion, while Divine Operating System was Moore’s Bond at Studio 54.
The smooth and sassy combination of bass guitar and violins is a perfect compliment to Geri Soriano-Lightwood’s hypnotic vocals on “The Light”, which starts the album off. The seductive and transcendent collide, meanwhile, with “The Mirror”, a cautionary tale about losing one’s self and giving into the doubts of others. The balance of music and message is strong, with a collecting of thunderous drum beats, and subtle flairs of electric guitar, pushing the group ever so slightly into rock territory that they hadn’t really played around with on their previous efforts. Things eventually shift with the synth-soaked vibe of “Good”. It’s easily one of the most dance-friendly tracks on 11i, heavy on electronic accents and digitized vocal breakdowns. Flipping the coin yet again, “Ride” feels more organic and down to earth, reminiscent of Stronger Than Pride-era Sade. The track is an inviting blend of Latin/Caribbean percussions, soul guitar and bass, and only the slightest bit of electronic influence.
11i definitely benefits from a fair bit of familiarity, as Soriano-Lightwood and musical companion Ramin Sakurai perhaps realized how much of a departure Divine Operating System was, compared to what their fans had grown accustomed to. The album doesn’t try to recreate signature moments from their debut, but instead builds on that foundation, while adding new and exciting elements. It feels more like a natural progression, and ultimately a return to form.
