Album Review: The Weeknd “House of Balloons”

The Weeknd – Loft Music

The Weeknd – House Of Balloons – Glass Table Girls

The Weeknd is the mysterious R&B project of Abel Tesfaye, a Toronto based artist Drake has been hyping over on his blog, October’s Very Own, since late last year. OVO is a creative collective spearheaded by Drake, Noah “40” Shebib, and Oliver El-Khatib. The company acts as a hub for all sorts of endeavors including music, film, and product collaborations. Rumors that OVO’s main man “40″, the producer behind Drake’s latest Thank Me Later, also worked his magic on Abel’s debut mix were recently shut down via twitter, but don’t be surprised if such a partnership materializes in the future. All those curious about The Weeknd’s back story are struggling to figure out simple facts such as how many musical forces are behind the name. Whether it’s primarily one individual or an entire group remains unconfirmed, but what’s obvious is that House of Balloons is the result of a collective effort comprising insiders such as members of the XO crew and Drake’s entourage.

Whoever put together the Hasselhoff edit for the single “What You Need” knew what they were getting at with the sexually charged close-ups and thumping sensual cuts that agitate the video’s images. The young singer’s buttery vocals are concurrently suggestive and down-trodden, making for a refreshing debut that refuses to indulge one’s quick-fix delusions.

The eerie paced synths on “House of Tables – Glass Table Girls” that look to Twin Shadow’s “Castles In The Snow” are accented by Abel’s cries shrouded in regret as he longs for former days of contentment. Be prepared when the song shifts gears halfway through to deliver an Odd Future-through-the-lens-of-Trey Songz inspired transformation. The initial romantic tendency of the track takes a perverse twist as stern vocals about pills and chasers are backed by the howling groans of a woman. “The Party & the After Party” uses an electro-suffused sample of Beach House’s “Master of None” against a 90s guitar and cymbal stimulated beat. Beach House sample number two comes straight at you on “Loft Music” to compliment Abel’s mystifying sex-drenched vocals which bleed into the hollow airy distortion that gradually envelops his distant laments.

The beauty of this tight collection of tracks is the intermingling of genres and expressive textures throughout. The Weeknd is justly the new source of excitement brewing in T.O., on a level parallel to the enthusiasm surrounding Drake’s initial takeover. You can currently grab the entire mix over on The Weeknd’s official website. House of Balloons proves to be what R&B dreams are truly made of.