Diggin’ This: Cleo Sol – “Self” (Forever Living Originals)

 

Forever thankful for a new Cleo Sol album.

 

 

 

I really liked the direction in which Cleo Sol and Inflo were heading with their SAULT song, “Love Will Free Your Mind,” from their 2022 album Untitled (God), so much so that it ended up at number 3 on my Top 100 Tracks of 2022 list (here).

 

 

It leaned into using organic instruments, such as acoustic guitar strumming, as the backbone of the song and embraced more of a spare, breathable sound, while losing nothing of the group’s trademark soul and enigmatic, lilting groove.

 

 

Cleo Sol‘s new album, Heaven, seems to follow that same trajectory. 

 

 

Featuring the Joni-esque “Airplane” or the D’Angelo gospel of the title track, Heaven is already one of my favorite albums of 2023.

 

 

Honestly, it’s hard to pick a favorite song to highlight, but I’m going to go with the opener, “Self.” 

 

 

With Inflo’s steady, polished drums, deft bass, half a Guaraldi piano riff, and Cleo Sol‘s soft, vulnerable yet assured vocals, it’s a magnificent listen.

 

 

Cleo Sol – “Self”

 

 

 

 

“Self” is taken from Cleo Sol‘s new album, Heaven, out today via Forever Living Originals.

 

 

 

 

Stream it on Spotify here.

 

 

 

 

Check out more of my favorite songs from Cleo Sol here

 

and

 

hear more of my favorite artists on Forever Living Originals here

 

and

 

get more of my favorite SAULT tracks here

 

and

 

listen to the tracks I’m very into right now on my 2023 Essentials playlist here.