Brother Wallace Leads Refreshing Soul & Gospel Charge With ‘Electric Love’ (ALBUM REVIEW)

There are very few pressures in life as intense as a debut album. Sure, art isn’t the end-all be-all of life, but when that life revolves around an artistic output, your first introduction into the recorded world could make or break any promise shown for an artist. This sentiment, though, has been explored in countless ways, and most music fans are vaguely aware of the mounting pressure on an artist as the label-approved release date draws nearer. A debut is a chance to prove yourself, in the case of Brother Wallace, though, very little is left to prove. The natural gospel prodigy has been in music since he was a child, taking the lessons learned in his church choir and using them to lead him to performances with legends like Kirk Franklin and to getting up on stage at Madison Square Garden. 

With all of these achievements and a fruitful career as a music teacher under his belt, Wallace is ready to take center stage with the release of Electric Love, his proper studio debut. On top of the stress of introducing himself to the world, Wallace is already aware of the power in his booming, soaring vocals and uplifting lyrics, adding another layer of frustration to the recording of his debut. All of these pitfalls that come with talent, though, are nowhere to be found on Electric Love. The inspiring, autobiographical debut from Wallace finds the artist not only avoiding the burdens of recording a debut but also celebrating them, welcoming them in as new challenges rather than allowing that negativity to infringe on his vision for Electric Love. Brother Wallace has arrived, and he wants everyone to be just as excited as he is. 

Electric Love is a lively, gospel-inspired outing from a refreshing voice in the scene. Wallace successfully captured the spiritual, infectious energy of his church upbringing and removed its preachy nature, leaving the artist with plenty of tools to build his first album. Punchy funk tendencies emphasize Wallace’s acrobatic vocals, electrifying the atmosphere around the listener to palpable proportions. A surface-level listen may reveal another Southern-tinted addition to a burgeoning soul revival scene, another artist attempting to cash in on a trend that typically rejects innovation. Wallace, though, is far from an artist chasing something. There is a raw authenticity to these 13 songs that allows this tracklist to play like something that has existed long before Wallace’s peers even heard a note of soul music, an intrinsic energy that cracks open tropes, allowing the bright light of Wallace’s individuality to shine throughout Electric Love. 

Every moment of Wallace’s debut is personal, heartfelt, and carefully curated. The artist achieved the much-sought-after balance between his influences and personal vision, resulting in a warping tracklist that would rather touch on every human emotion than achieve any level of consistency. This tracklist dips without warning, forcing the listener to pay attention to every moving part, like the emotional whiplash of hearing the blistering “Who Do You Love” transition into the downtrodden “Any Day Now.” It is in these intense sonic twists where Wallace’s approach glows unignorably and adds a bit of depth to this outwardly positive LP. 

Wallace is not crooning out positive affirmations in hopes of filling a void, nor is he employing bluesy soul tropes in place of their own ideas. The boisterous spirit of these songs is an extension of the man behind the music, an unwavering introduction to every nuance of Wallace. The blaring brass and catchy vocals on “You’re The Man,” and the minimalist, piano-driven “Top Shotta,” juxtapose more cathartic moments like the defeated “No God In This Town” and the vivid storytelling of “Hope Of Fools” in a multi-dimensional fashion. Every moment of this LP is intentional, no bells or whistles needed; all Wallace needs to create these spellbinding performances is something to say, and the artist has plenty of insight to offer. The bouncing title track finds the artist surrendering himself to love in an invigorating take on a love song. In contrast, the intoxicating balladry of “Midnight Valley” finds Wallace crawling in search of any sense of connection. 

Electric Love is the debut album that most artists dream of creating. Rejuvenating yet not familiar, daring without feeling forced, these 13 songs properly introduce Wallace as a risk-loving, spiritual guide in contemporary music, bringing a needed self-assuredness to contemporary soul.