High Priority

Opening with an overblown (synthesised) orchestrated intro and ending with a Paisley Park-esque instrumental reprise, High Priority is the epitome of upscale, sophisticated 80s electro soul. First and foremost it’s home to Saturday Love, a song that is like the very best of 80s soul wrapped up in a single bittersweet paean, but High Priority is also a sister album to Janet Jackson’s Control album from the same year.

It’s filled with similar brash, angular beats and a more minimal production approach from Jam and Lewis than their epic SOS Band hits. There is space left between the musical elements, the synth and bass parts are tight and clipped so they can perfectly tessellate, the guitar licks slotted in carefully, restricted to tiny little strums every eight bars. Its digital synth palette may sound a little dated but that doesn’t detract from the multitude of quality funk and soul moments within these grooves.