Charlotte Dos Santos – Morfo Review

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Expanding on the booming production and vocal confidence of Charlotte Dos Santos’ debut, Cleo, is no small feat. Exploring the neo-funk and smooth soul stylings Santos’ work so clearly provides is a delight, though, and Morfo is a profound follow-up to her debut piece. Where Cleo was an expansive assertion of sophisti-pop class, Morfo is a unique blend of assertive lyricisms and experimental instrumental choices. From the slow riffs, of bass and guitar, the jangling sound at first unsure of itself, the layering is blissful. Hello Hello indeed. A crash of layering and pacing that comes out of nowhere is just one of many masterful strokes featured on Morfo.

Soulful as well as experimental, Morfo expands on the ideas and classiness of Hello Hello frequently. The Player and the Fool is a solid follow-up. Its reduction into strings and echoes of vocal arrangements is as beautifully justified as the consistent beat found in the first minutes of this track. Santos overwhelms the mixing at times, her vocal range piercing through with such intensity. Occurring frequently across these tracks is an assertion of Santos’ vocal range. Careful not to repeat the same messages found on Cleo, her lyrics and focus are intense in all the right places. Away From You has the finding of new love and organisational lament to it, but with such power from the vocals, Santos commands a level of elevation. Ghost in the Shell has hints of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Murder on the Dancefloor. Santos is an artist who can replicate, adapt and create such unique beauty, Morfo is clear evidence of that. 

Cupid’s Bow follows with great and intelligent strength. An overdose of love, but with a charming bassline holding out against the tide that usually sweeps musicians away on a wave of mediocrity. Morfo just can’t help but excel. Cupid’s Bow relies once more on the essential, excellent lyrics Santos prescribes so often. Between this and Cleo, few artists have managed such sporadic, inventive musical leaps in such a short period. It shows surreal confidence, and Morfo becomes an engaging treat because of it. Usual suspects of song thematics are given new treatment constantly, with Santos capable of elevating the more meandering and frequent moments into inspired, desirable tracks. If there were any doubts over that quality, Angel in Disguise with its beautiful piano insert and Filha Do Sol to follow it up are perfect examples of how Santos exceeds the expectations of the genre.

Communal feel of a big band variety is founded deep at the core of Santos’ moving musical qualities. Morfo is no exception to that ruling. Jazz-fusion is layered deep underneath vocals that cut through with ease, they are the soothing notes that rise to the challenge of working in synchronicity with the stunning instrumentals. Inspiration from the segments of life is commonplace, it is what an artist can produce and create with those experiences that matter most. For Santos, that means an exceptional collection of experiences put to heavily-influenced RnB tones that come clear often. From the antonymic structure of Just Sayin’ to the emotionally-charged, always-moving Angel in Disguise, Santos has provided a rewarding LP here. Morfo lingers on not just as a sincerely crafted and well-worked piece of the modern soul boom, but a collection of RnB influences that bolster an already talented singer, taking her to new and exciting heights.