On “GRIP,” serpentwithfeet sheds its earlier gospel influences for a classical flourish to celebrate black queer nightlife that still reaches heavenly heights. While “soil'' was inspired by the sounds of Serpent's youth in Baltimore, and its follow-up “Deacon'' chronicled a heartbreak and its aftermath, “GRIP'' finds Serpent more content. , cherishing the small moments of physical intimacy without becoming sentimental or indulgent. “Damn Gloves,” featuring frequent collaborator Ty Dolla $ign, transports listeners to a club environment with its propulsive beat and insatiable hook, as does “Rum/Throwback,” which fuses house with his EDM. to set the scene. The record fluctuates between adjacent moments of raw desire and tenderness. A later track, “Hummin,” is like her ASMR, with snake hums and whispers attempting to imitate a fleeting intimate moment between lovers. Serpent's trademark silky vocals and heart-on-sleeve declarations of love shine here as they did on “soil,” but the instrumentation has moved away from its previous grandeur and is more intimate. It's easy to use. Take “Ellipsis,” a track built on a 90s R&B instrumental, or the standout “Lucky Me,” punctuated by fingerstyle guitar plucks and gentle crashing waves. He plays a delicious falsetto in this state. “I’m lucky to be on your page,” he sings. […] Sorry, I'm gushing again. An artist in every sense of the word, Serpent recently helped create the music for A24's The Inspection and last year curated Heart of Brick, an audiovisual experience including dance and music, in Hamburg. It's little surprise, then, that “GRIP” reflects Serpent's other artistic pursuits. A dynamic and sensual album, rich in imagery, sprinkled with romance, and full of joy.
