Origin
Studio album by
Jordan Rakei
Released14 June 2019 (2019-06-14)
Genre
Length43:32
LabelNinja Tune
Jordan Rakei chronology
Wallflower
(2017)		 Origin
(2019)		 Small Moments
(2020)
Singles from Origin
  1. "Signs"
    Released: 19 February 2020 (2020-02-19)

Origin is the third studio album by New Zealand-Australian singer-songwriter Jordan Rakei. It was released on 14 June 2019 on Ninja Tune, with a deluxe edition released on 13 March 2020. The album explores themes of digital dystopia and the impacts of technology on humanity.[1]

Background and release

Origin was released two years after Rakei's previous album Wallflower (2017).[2] Written over the course of two months, each track on the album tackles a different effect that technology can have on the human experience, including virtual and augmented reality, simulation theory, brain–computer interfaces, and the technological singularity.[2] Rakei cites dystopian television series Black Mirror and The Handmaid's Tale, as well as the Yuval Noah Harari book Sapiens, as thematic inspirations for the album.[3]

The deluxe version of Origin, released nine months after the album's initial release, includes a version of the track "Signs" featuring American rapper Common, whom Rakei met while on tour and cites as one of his "favourite rappers of all time."[4]

In January 2020, Rakei performed three songs from the album in a Tiny Desk Concert for NPR Music.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic75/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
Clash8/10[7]
Exclaim!8/10[8]
The Line of Best Fit7.5/10[9]
MusicOMH[10]
PopMatters9/10[11]

Origin was met with positive reviews. At Metacritic, the album received an aggregate score of 75 based on 7 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[6]

In a review for The Guardian, writer Tara Joshi called Origin a marked improvement over Rakei's first two studio albums, describing it as "full of a rich, cinematic musicality that feels poppier, sparklier and more breezily ambitious."[1] PopMatters reviewer Paul Carr similarly lauded the album, dubbing it a "neo-soul masterclass" that is a "vibrant and deftly blended mix of smooth jazz, classic soul, and cool funk with a sprinkling of 1990s R&B and hip-hop."[11] Reviewers have also praised Rakei's soulful vocals and lush, groovy, jazz-inflected production, as well as his lyrical commentary on the effects of technology on the human experience.[7][8][11]

Track listing

Origin track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Mad World"3:15
2."Say Something"2:40
3."Mind's Eye"4:06
4."Rolling Into One"4:19
5."Oasis"4:20
6."Wildfire"4:08
7."Signs"2:59
8."You & Me"4:14
9."Moda"2:56
10."Speak"4:47
11."Mantra"5:48
Total length:43:32
Origin (Deluxe Edition) bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
1."Borderline"4:15
2."Signs" (featuring Common)4:15
3."Always Coming"3:47
4."Speak – Live Piano Session"4:37
5."Best Part – BBC Maida Vale Session"3:23
6."Mind's Eye – The Pool Session"7:10
7."You & Me – KCRW Session"4:30
8."Mad World – The Pool Session"5:55
9."Mantra – The Pool Session"6:07
10."Rolling Into One – The Pool Session"4:33
Total length:48:32

References

  1. 1 2 Joshi, Tara (June 15, 2019). "One to watch: Jordan Rakei". The Guardian. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Vinti, Mike (June 18, 2019). "Interview: Jordan Rakei's Neo-Soul Is A Warning From The Future". Complex. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ Downs, Sarah (June 26, 2019). "Jordan Rakei Has A Message For The Future On His New Album". NZ Herald. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ Robles, Jonathan (February 19, 2020). "Jordan Rakei recruits Common for new version of 'Signs'". Variance Magazine. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  5. ↑ Mohamed, Suraya (January 13, 2020). "Jordan Rakei: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR Music. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Origin by Jordan Rakei". Metacritic. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Finamore, Emma (June 12, 2019). "Jordan Rakei - Origin". Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Alger, Anna (June 11, 2019). "Jordan Rakei Origin". Exclaim!. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  9. ↑ Gayler, Max (June 11, 2019). "In searching for humanity, Jordan Rakei has found his footing on Origin". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ Hogwood, Ben (June 14, 2019). "Jordan Rakei - Origin | Album Reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 Carr, Paul (June 19, 2019). "Jordan Rakei's 'Origin' Is a Neo-Soul Masterclass, PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
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