With her debut, Neo Jessica Joshua, otherwise known as NAO, shows that it’s still possible to record an incredibly cohesive pop record. For All We Know may be flawed, but hits right in the spot.
Obviously it’s not a straightforward pop album, rather a great balance between electropop, neo-soul, alternative R&B and UK bass, (reasonably) described by NAO herself as “wonky funk”. It’s also way more than just a collection of singles. Despite having shared five tracks (including her excellent recent single Girlfriend) early, this feels nothing like a greatest hits compilation. Thanks to the new songs and voice memos, everything flows almost perfectly.
Though every here and there a weaker spot appears (Happy and Give Me a Little particularly), let’s not forget that this album is 18 tracks long and we sometimes need a moment to catch a breath. But on the other hand songs like Inhale Exhale, Fool to Love, Get to Know Ya or We Don’t Give A prove that NAO on For All We Know offers us pop (or wonky funk) at its finest.
4 / 5