Take Me Apart
Kelela · 2017
62 min · 16 tracks · electronic music
Ethereal vocal layers intertwine with experimental beats, creating a sonic landscape that navigates intimacy and vulnerability.
Top tracks — play these first
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Frontline — Opening the album with lush production and a haunting melody, Frontline sets the emotional tone for the entire record, capturing themes of love and longing.
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LMK — This track stands out for its bold exploration of communicating desires and boundaries within relationships, marked by an infectious chorus that combines confidence and vulnerability.
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Take Me Apart — The title track encapsulates Kelela’s artistic vision, blending intimate storytelling with experimental sounds that reflect her journey of self-discovery and emotional honesty.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
Kelela's debut blends experimental beats with layered vocals, creating a distinct sound that rewards repeated listens.
What we noticed
- The album features ethereal vocal layers that often overlap, creating a dense texture throughout the tracks.
- Each song incorporates experimental beats that shift in tempo and style, contributing to a sense of unpredictability.
- Several tracks utilize silence and minimalism effectively, allowing moments of vulnerability to resonate more deeply.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate late-night listening experience
- explorative journey through vulnerability
- immersive soundscapes for reflection
- emotionally charged vocal performances
- subtle beats for focused attention
Maybe skip if you
- seeking instant gratification
- prefer upbeat party tracks
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 2017, Take Me Apart is Kelela's debut studio album following her critically acclaimed EP, Hallucinogen. At this point in her career, she was transitioning from underground success to broader mainstream recognition, showcasing her unique blend of alternative R&B and electronic music.
- Stylistic neighbors
- FKA twigs· Janelle Monáe· SZA
Moments worth listening for
Where the writing does something specific.
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Take Me Apart
The narrative shifts from questioning to asserting wants in a relationship unfolds throughout the verses.
This shift illustrates a move from vulnerability to empowerment, highlighting Kelela's journey of self-assertion within the context of intimacy.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Frontline 5:39
- 2 Waitin 3:15
- 3 Take Me Apart 4:02
- 4 Enough 5:09
- 5 Jupiter 2:05
- 6 Better 4:26
- 7 LMK 3:38
- 8 Truth or Dare 4:12
- 9 S.O.S. 2:22
- 10 Blue Light 3:36
- 11 Onanon 4:31
- 12 Turn to Dust 4:29
- 13 Bluff 1:12
- 14 Altadena 5:40
- 15 A Message 3:53
- 16 Rewind 3:58
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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