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Tom Krell aka How to Dress Well is not your conventional singer/songwriter, nor is he your typical soul boy. There are no acoustic guitars or libidinous wails to be found on this, his second album. Rather, the arty Brooklynite creates haunting R&B soundscapes that end up sounding both arty and emotionally affecting.
Krell first caused a stir thanks to his disjointed songs, which were often spun out of fragments of other popular pop and R&B songs (Ecstasy With Jojo, for instance, was built from wisps of Michael Jackson's Baby Be Mine) and made for an arresting (not to mention critically acclaimed) debut album, Love Remains. Total Loss is the follow up, and as the title suggests is the product of a "very unhappy and confused" period for Krell. The end result sees only a subtle departure in sound, however – the 11 songs here are still ghost-like compositions made all the more ethereal thanks to Krell's falsetto.
Have a listen above and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
