In early February, Brittany Howards released her second solo album since Alabama Shakes went on hiatus in 2018. What Now is a soulful kaleidoscope of sound in every song. First single from the fall of 2023, the title track is a dirty funk number where Howard sings of a relationship, “I don’t wanna get used to all the tension”. A fuzzy guitar buzzes in the final few minutes of “Power to Undo” whereas “Prove It To You” is a propulsive electronic dance track.
The introspective tracks are the ones that standout. “Samson” has the heartbreaking lyrics of finding it hard to leave a partner – “I’m split in two/Should I stick with you?”. Howard sings in “Red Flags” of running full through the warning signs of a bad relationship. What Now is an album full of tension and noise, avant-garde jazz right through to quiet storm tracks. This almost gets all wrapped up in last track, “Every Color In Blue” that has an insistent drum beat pushing it along. Certainly, an album for fans eclectic RnB.
7/10
The Light Appears 
This one is outside my usual bandwidth, but I like hearing something unusual. Quite dramatic. The lyric video is cleverly done.