At the current peak of his ascent, the DJ and producer has returned with an album that plays to his strengths: making electronic music that appeals to the heart and soul as well as the feet. Like his ‘Actual Life’ series, the trilogy of albums that helped give him his breakthrough, ‘Ten Days’ is emotional and reflective, and gorgeously so.
A reworking of a 1995 Emmylou Harris song, mixes the poeticism of the original lyrics, emotively delivered by the country icon, with minimal, delicately utilised synths. The Joy Anonymous-featuring ‘Peace U Need’, meanwhile, offers an affecting idea: that even if things don’t turn out the way we’d hope, our legacy in someone’s life can still live on. “I let you take a piece of me,” its key line goes. “I hope you get the peace you need.”
‘Ten Days’ excels on two fronts – when Fred and his collaborators dig up a more interesting take on the influence of love, and when the producer turns his sights to the dancefloor. In the former category, there’s ‘Fear Less’, a stunning turn from Sampha that takes us into a scene in a car, anxieties soothed by a partner “on the passenger side”. In the latter, there’s ‘Places To Be’, the biggest mover on the album, guided by features from Anderson. Paak and Chika, and a beat akin to that of André 3000 and Kelis’ ‘Millionaire’. “There’s something about that song that just makes you wanna get up and bust a motherfucking move,” a voice declares in the middle – an incredibly accurate assessment.
It would be easy for Gibson to take the attention and acclaim surrounding him and return on this album with by-the-numbers, floor-filling bangers. Instead, he pushes deeper and comes up with something that’s both poignant and fun in equal measure – a solid gold record that leans into the little moments and produces pure, emotional magic that will ensure many more “biggg mad crazy” times in Fred Again..’s future ahead.
- Rhian Daly - nme.com
