9 Deadly Sins For Tamada

One could hardly accuse Georgian singer-songwriter Tamada of lacking in ambition on this, his second album, which he organises around the concept of nine modern-day ‘deadly sins’ that range from ‘flirtation’ to ‘sadness’. Much attention has clearly been paid to cultivating a highly-polished electronic sound on the LP, with plenty of nice production tricks to enjoy – a subtly AutoTuned vocal lead here, a whistled melodic flourish there, and rich and varied percussion throughout. And yet all these ideas cause certain arrangements to feel overcooked, and the beats often veer towards the drowsy end of chill house. As for Tamada himself, he clearly relishes playing the role of the magnetic yet troubled pop star, and we get some really strong instrumental work on opening guitar jaunt ‘Dao’ (Treason) and the syncopated, accordion-led ‘Pranchia’ (Flirt), where the artist’s Georgian folk influences shine through. Certainly one to watch.