Jamie Woon: Making Time review – back with soul and pared-back purpose

Nobody quite knew where to place Jamie Woon when his debut album, Mirrorwriting, came out in April 2011. Associated with the fragmenting dubstep scene (he had collaborated with Burial) but possessing a fully fledged soul voice and an exploratory approach to musical styles, he fell between several cracks. This long-awaited follow-up should place the London-born singer on firmer ground. Making Time moves with economy and purpose: the production is pared back throughout but the sound is full and crisp and songs such as standout Sharpness come together with a satisfying click (Woon cites D’Angelo as an inspiration). The album sags a little in the middle but there is much here to justify a nearly five-year wait.