Saturn
| Nao
Saturn
Saturn is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Nao, released on 26 October 2018 through Little Tokyo Recordings and RCA Records. It was supported by the singles "Another Lifetime" and "Make It Out Alive". "If You Ever" was also released prior to the album in a version featuring American singer 6lack, but he does not feature on the album version. Nao will tour in support of the album across late 2018 and early 2019. The album also earned a Grammy nomination for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. -Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Pitchfork
On her second album, the London singer-songwriter examines personal growth, romantic upheaval, and the trials of young adulthood through an astrological lens.
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The Guardian
Saturn falls somewhere between the dance hits of producer DJs with big-name features, and earnest, heart-tugging balladry. Once at the epicentre of a promising synthpop scene, Nao’s sound is now more of an acquired taste, made to serve a loyal and steadily growing fanbase open to her sense of adventure.
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NME
An astronomical album, filled with blessings, Nao’s second record fuses R&B and jazz to explore the hardships and feelings of being a modern-day black woman.
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Loud and Quiet
Repeat listens, though, reveal ‘Saturn’ to be exactly that – initial run-throughs of its thirteen tracks won’t scratch the thematic surface, but further investigations begin to give you a unflinching glimpse of Nao’s mindset at the time she was writing these songs; a time riddled with insecurities at the prospect of turning thirty.
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The Line Of Best Fit
Saturn spans styles and genres, blending soulful R&B with hints of funk and dance with ease, releasing moments of optimism such as those on “Love Supreme”: “…floating away with change, humble at every stage / I know we gon’ be alright, cos we’ll make it to a love supreme”.
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Forbes
It’s less of a rollercoaster, and more like a Tunnel of Love—complete with animatronic scenes of love and loss on either side.
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The Skinny
NAO assuredly ascends into the stratosphere with sophomore album Saturn, an open diary that leaves you both rooting for and absorbed in the afflictions of the angelic singer.
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The Atlantic
It’s a lush, ambitious record that pulses with the singer’s need for movement.
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KRUI Radio
The 13 track Saturn takes listeners on a trip, traversing feelings of despair and bliss and regret, all while maintaining lyrical creativity and mellow beats. When listening with headphones, it flows perfectly from one ear into the other.
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DIY
Despite the album's beginning in confusion 'Saturn' sounds genuinely uplifting throughout with her impressive vocal range being the focal point.
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NZ Herald
Saturn wins with its ability to showcase all of Nao's talents without resorting to flashiness – without losing any of her irresistible vibrant colours in the process.
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The Review Geek
NAO’s Saturn is an album that glistens and shines as brightly as the night sky the R&B artist paints in her dreamy album. Ending on the slow tempoed A Life Like This, NAO bows out confidently, producing a stunning slice of R&B that will go down as one of the best albums in this genre this year.
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Hot Press
I don't know about you, but I'm looking forward to my Saturn Return if it means there is a possibility of finding similar creative inspiration to Nao's.
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The Star
This project proves, for the first time, that she's ready to be ranked among the top artistes. We can all agree that she's been in a continuous progressive course and her career looks more promising than ever.
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Independent
A monumental shift is supposed to occur in your late twenties, thanks to the astrological phenomenon that is the “Saturn return” (when the planet arrives back at the same place it was when you were born, after 29.5 years).
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Jezebel
The entire experience of Saturn is so indefatigably pleasant, NAO makes it practically impossible to rebuff the invitation to fly with her.
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Entertainment
Saturn falls somewhere between the dance hits of producer DJs with big-name features, and earnest, heart-tugging balladry.
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Clash
Nao is entirely galactic on this record – there is an omnipresent sensation of otherness throughout the album. Whether it be in the trademark effluvient vocal or in the consistently atmospheric and glistening instrumental, ‘Saturn’ is spacial.
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London in Stereo
Nao’s command of a throughline on Saturn is impressive, as is the broadening of her musical palette. The sky’s the limit.
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Collateral
Saturn is a cosmic album, full of energy, awareness, and answers that lay the foundations for NAO’s next steps. In music, as in life.
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Spin
. On Saturn, she accomplishes the same thing: In relaying her story of heartbreak, she provides encouragement for anyone listening, demonstrating that survival is possible.
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The Free Library
Although she hasn't exactly troubled the charts, Nao's style defined a moment in the evolution of mainstream British R'n'B.
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