Blissful embraces from your lover, jealous side eye from exs, and world-shattering heartbreak – whatever the melodrama Red Moon in Venus makes the listener feel like they’re the star. Kali Uchis’ new album is for the girls who want to feel on top of the world.
Red Moon in Venus, the Colombian American singer and songwriter’s third studio album that was released on the 3rd March, is a psychedelic R&B fused delight that wraps the listener in a hazy cloud. It ponders elegantly on the “burning expression of desire, heartbreak, faith, and honesty, reflecting the divine femininity of the moon and Venus” and at its core “love is the message” as Kali stated. With its warm sound and heated lyrics, Kali has created the perfect transitional soundtrack to usher in spring and Red Moon will be a go to for hot summer nights later this year.
We’re transported to a balmy eternally nocturnal garden as the album begins with the quiet chirping of crickets on the short intro ‘in My Garden…’. Kali seems to be speaking to her lover on the phone: “Hello/Can you hear me?/I just wanted to tell you, in case you forgot/I love you”. A bell chimes and we’re plunged into the first single from the album ‘I Wish You Roses’ setting the mood for soft glam with this chilled-out melancholic track. Kali expertly glides between heartbreak, visceral love, and nonchalance for her exs on the album. ‘I Wish You Roses’ falls into the first category with Kali seemingly having no bitterness over the breakup as she breathily whispers, “I wish you well” until the outro when she promises “You’re gonna want me back”.
The third track features R&B singer Omar Apollo who is currently supporting SZA on her SOS tour. On the short but sweet, deeply sensual ‘Worth the Wait’ Kali notes the importance of balancing romance and sex in a healthy relationship. She says she’d rather wait because “Gotta be careful with my heart because I love deep” – she is a Cancer after all.
‘Love Between…’ uses an interpolation of The Tempress 1972 single ‘Love…Can Be So Wonderful’ but the bisexual icon alters the gender-specific chorus to “love between two human beings”. With light and echoey sparsely plucked guitars and Kali’s delicate croons giving the song a distinctly 70s lush sound.
‘All Mine’ is a standout on Red Moon. Kali’s head over heels for her partner and she delights in the fact that she solely can make them smile. In the super catchy triumphant chorus, she sings, “My baby makes me so proud, that’s all me”, and has us all grinning from ear to ear. Fittingly the next track begins with autotuned vocals from Kali’s boyfriend Don Toliver. ‘Fantasy’ is the perfect summer club track. It has a great beat but what stands out is the chorus: “On my body, don’t let go of me/I just want the fantasy/ I love it when you worship me” – Kali is giving goddess energy.
Next, the two bilingual tracks on the album come back-to-back. ‘Como Te Quiero Yo’ is a hypnotic sensual slow number in which Kali pleads with her lover to put the drama on hold and just make love to her. Whilst on the fabulous ‘Hasta Cuando’ she tells her jealous ex-lover and ex’s new girl to stay mad because she’s living the life of luxurious now. It features an amazing spoken word section with the most iconic memorable line: “At the end of the day, she’d eat my pussy if I let her”.
‘Endlessly’ is another standout. “It’s Valentine’s like, every day” sings Kali on this ultra-buoyant disco track full of funky guitars and twinkling synths. In juxtaposition, we take a half step into the dark with the nocturnal track ‘Moral Conscience’. A brooding sensation is created with the slightly dissonant synths and the singer’s promise to her ex “you’re gonna feel it/when you’re all alone”. Kali gives her best vocal performance on this song producing a gut-wrenching head turning scream at the end of the first verse.
On the interlude ‘Not Too Late’ Kali’s stuck in limbo. She tells her lover “It’s not too late to admit you love me” whilst repetitive whirling synths create the sensation of being swallowed by quicksand. Thankful ‘Blue’ is here to break the spell. With the 90s R&B-inspired drumbeat and smooth sax it’s giving the height of drama. That chorus “What’s the point in all the pretty things in the world if I don’t have you” will stick with you. The best bit however is Kali’s cheeky background whispers “(I don’t wanna see you with nobody else, I just wanna love you, baby, all to myself)” adding a touch of witty humour to the blue song.
Manipulative exs beware – Summer Walker and Kali team up on ‘Deserve Me’ to tell them to “wise up”. Delivering crushing blows to Kali’s ex, the women show that they’re the ones with the power. Though the whole album is divine, ‘Moonlight’, the second single released from Red Moon, is still undoubtedly the best track. Dripping sex appeal Kali’s vocals paired with the stunningly rich production will make you melt. Bringing the album to a close with a breath of sweetness is ‘Happy Now’. Bubbly at the start, she asks her lover to “Promise you’ll take the stars out the sky/Make them all align just for us” before the track ends with a more ambient sound as Kali utters “peace of mine/gotta free my mind” as waves wash over the track.
The astrological theme paired with the silky production and Kali’s heavenly vocals gives this album a magical aura in which divine femininity rules over all. Even in her most vulnerable moments, like on ‘Blue’ and ‘Moral Conscience’, Kali radiates strength and honesty that shows she’s in control. Though according to mythology, a red moon is a bad omen forecasting misfortune or even the apocalypse in Christianity Kali Uchis seems to have overcome her troubles by the end of Red Moon in Venus and is on track for clear skies.
Words by: Molly Sutherland
Header Image: Kali Uchis
