I M U R – Thirty33 – Album Art by Laine Butler
Almost two years ago, Vancouver’s I M U R reached out to us to review their, at the time, new album, Little Death. It was a revelation and something different that caught our attention immediately. The Canadian trio of vocalist/keys Jenny Lea, guitarist/producer Mikey Blige and electronic violinist/bassist Amine Bouzaher are back with their third LP, Thirty33. The title comes from the door code to their apartment they rented while writing and developing the intimate album, that as they said is a “metaphor for the code into their musical world.”
Aptly named, for sure, the third studio album from I M U R explores the duality of life; that there is no good without bad and without each other there can be no distinction of happiness if sadness were absent. Thirty33 is deeply rooted in R&B that is fused with hip-hop and a futuristic soundscape that feels nostalgic with hints of a Portishead flare. Jenny Lea‘s soothing and sultry vocals permeate Thirty33 and features some of her most vulnerable lyrics to date. The pain is real, but so are the triumphs.
The band’s time in Montreal, where the majority of the album was composed, widened their cultural perspective. It changed their sound and their inspiration. Their time in Quebec opened a new style that could have only been accessed by change and Thirty33 is the result. It is a beautiful composed and produced record that will inspire the future generation of musicians in and around Vancouver, BC. I M U R stands as one of the premiere rising stars of Canadian music.
Check out the brand new album, Thirty33, from I M U R on Spotify below and buy the LP on iTunes now!
