The album starts with a muffled, bass heavy beat intertwined with what sound like a car revving up for a trip. While this is indeed correct, I recently learned something very interesting about the opening track to the album (minimally titled “Intro”). In a new Vevo featurette on the Canadian duo, producer Jordan Ullman shared (in regards to synthesizers):
You can use one key to make an a whole song, right…
I made the “Intro” to The Space Between using a sythesizer, and made it sound like a car.
From here, the album transitions into what was personally the most anticipated track on the record. I’d heard an early version of “Gave Your Love Away” during Majid Jordan’s DJ set during Lollapalooza weekend – about two months prior to the release of The Space Between. The deeper and deeper bass throughout the song was an effect that stuck with me basically every day until the album dropped. Mind you it was about 2am when I heard it, all I could remember was that it had this 90’s R&B, male-Brandy “I Wanna Be Down” vibe that was so nostalgic but so new.
As you an imagine, finally hearing the album open with this track was an instant confirmation of the quality and atmosphere that would be created on this follow-up from Toronto’s finest (literally, finest.) This slowly blends into “OG Heartthrob”: another cute, throwback, head-bopper on which Majid croons about memories of a past relationship:
Original heartthrob
Giving me heart problems
I can’t take making love to anyone but you
Original heartthrob
You make my body rock
I can’t take waking up to anyone but you
From “O.G.” we fade out of the song with Majid’s vocals seamlessly evolving into a pitched-down loop of the final words of the track. This mysteriously leads into what I feel is one of their most up-tempo, pop radio-friendly singles on this album – “Body Talk”. Along with that notion, it also featured what I believe is probably their most colorful music video to date. What I enjoy about this song is the way the chorus almost has two parts. Once the beat really picks up during the chorus, I love the way the bassline behind the percussion intensifies an octave(?) each time Majid says “body talk”. It’s kind of like the opposite bass effect of “Gave Your Love Away”, in a sense. And there’s also this subtle echo on “talk” that sounds so incredible.
From here, we then move into what is hands-down my favorite transition on the album, and possibly one of my top five songs from these guys titled “Not Ashamed”. The song starts with a futuristic, distorted, a capella intro that’s been through a vocoder maybe once or twice in it’s day(I’m getting Daft Punk vibes on this one, let’s be serious.) Again, another bassline that has not even been created yet, and that a cappella intro still “chants” behind the chorus if you listen closely. I feel like they took a huge risk in a new direction, and it paid off so well! So many elements, and vocal effects that bounce back and forth between each side of your brain. This song is so wavy and moody (very “A Place Like This”),but the lyrics are what really get me because it’s honest, direct, relatable, and applicable to any gender or relationship type. What I love about the ending is that it’s exactly the same way it started, which is not only just cool but kind of reiterates again how he feels about this person’s behavior. FAVORITE SONG ON THE RECORD.
You wanna play with me and act like we’re ok?
You want my love, but you want it your own way
You’re left or right, depending on the day
You’re not ashamed, your feelings always change
Unfortunately for any song placed after “Not Ashamed”, it’s not gonna be able to hold it’s weight. I’m not huge fan of most features or collaborations with Majid Jordan (just being honest), so “The One I Want” featuring OVO teammate PARTYNEXTDOOR. That does not mean that I can’t appreciate the quality of the song, though. It fits exactly where it should within the album, and I think that if anything this was a really organic, unforced collaboration because his vocals alongside Majid’s works very well. And if anything that chorus is catchyyy! “Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh”. With that said, personal preference – my least fave on the album and almost a much-needed breather after the first half of the record. After so many interesting beats, I thought this was a bit safe. I felt the exact same way about “My Love” on the Majid Jordan album, too, so…idk. Within the album I love it, but as the second single prior to the album release – I just wanted to hear more from them without any features.
Love this review— very insightful!
Thank youuuuu <3