Morning After is the long-awaited second project of the up and rising Canadian duo known as dvsn. When I first heard the title of the album, my first thoughts somehow led me to presume that it would be filled with songs of guilt, regret or heartbreak. I knew right away that dvsn was about to get me in my feels again. I was right. And I’m not even mad.

Ever since I heard dvsn’s debut album Sept. 5th, I’ve been obsessed. This new wave of R&B/neo-soul/electropop that Daniel Daley (vocalist) and Nineteen85 (producer) constructed so masterfully left me in awe. The album offers a rare yet excellent and pure sound, something that was foreign to me at first but intriguing at the same time, featuring tracks such as “Too Deep,” “Hallucinations” and “With Me.” Not to mention, never before had I encountered such a masterpiece like “The Line,” which is hands down my favorite song of all time. The 7-minute track uncovers the complexities of trust in a relationship, and exposes the troubles of two hesitant individuals diving into the vulnerability of falling in love. The song sets a melancholic mood from beginning to end, leaving you overwhelmed with emotions – especially the build up to when Daley sings, 

“…at the end of it all I’m coming back to you.” 

The angelic-like vocals that follow on the fifth minute, and the launch and delivery of the outro is simply spine tingling.

You might understand my excitement for the release of Morning After. The hype was too real, and now that it’s been dropped, I can vow that it was worth the wait. Morning After brought about a range of feelings and sweet dispositions – from the sexy, sensuous tune “P.O.V.,” (that samples Maxwell’s classic R&B song “Fortunate”) to the slow and soulful “Body Smile” tugging on your heart strings as it unravels the highs and lows of a tormenting romance. 

As the album progresses, you delve into the pain and agony expressed in Daley’s voice and find yourself in a reflective state. “Conversations in a Diner” is a particular song that touches your soul in a way that makes you reminisce about the exes you never had. And what better way to end the album than with the song’s outro? The alignment and richness of the vocals and its gospel touch towards the end draws you into the depths of contemplative emotion, (resembling the set ambience of “The Line”) and it leaves you wanting more.

Overall, Morning After is a great album and I highly recommend listening to it. Daley’s raw voice channels those classic R&B vibes and it is perfectly complimented by Nineteen85’s modern and wavy production touches consisting of impressive layering techniques. This type of music gravitates the soul, and that’s exactly the kind of experience you want when listening to music.

5 best tracks of Morning After
Body Smile
P.O.V.
Conversations in a Diner
Claim
Nuh Time / Tek Time

By Kristal Dela Cruz