Released 10 years ago
The Dreaming Room
Laura Mvula · 2016
36 min · 12 tracks · neo soul
A lush tapestry of orchestral arrangements intertwines with deeply personal lyrics and soulful melodies, creating an ethereal listening experience.
Top tracks — play these first
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Overcome — This track features a powerful blend of soaring vocals and intricate harmonies that highlight Mvula's lyrical exploration of resilience and self-acceptance.
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Kiss My Feet — With its bold instrumentation and assertive lyrics, this song captures Mvula's unique ability to marry vulnerability with strength, making it a standout piece.
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Phenomenal Woman — An homage to Maya Angelou's poem, this track embodies themes of empowerment and confidence through its uplifting melody and affirming message.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions and strong production, establishing Mvula's unique voice in neo-soul.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a strong orchestral introduction that sets a lush tone, followed by tracks that often feature layered vocal harmonies.
- The final track features a gradual build-up of instrumentation, culminating in a powerful climax that contrasts with the more subdued earlier tracks.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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7/10
- 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
Known within its scene. 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
- ethereal moments of introspection
- steady pacing for reflective listening
- highlights that inspire emotional depth
- short tracks for quick engagement
Maybe skip if you
- seekers of high-energy rhythms
- prefer standalone hit singles
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released on June 17, 2016, The Dreaming Room is Laura Mvula's sophomore album, following her critically acclaimed debut, Sing to the Moon. At this point in her career, she was establishing herself as a significant voice in neo-soul, building on the momentum generated by her earlier work while experimenting further with her sound and lyrical themes.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Janelle Monáe· Erykah Badu· Lianne La Havas
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Who I Am 1:19
- 2 Overcome 3:12
- 3 Bread 3:22
- 4 Lucky Man 2:53
- 5 Let Me Fall 3:40
- 6 Kiss My Feet 3:44
- 7 Show Me Love 6:03
- 8 Renaissance Moon 0:46
- 9 Angel 3:41
- 10 People 3:48
- 11 Nan 1:12
- 12 Phenomenal Woman 2:44
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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