REVIEW: Diana Gordon, Pure

Diana Gordon, Pure (Republic/Virgin EMI)

Previously known for her electro-pop/dance project as Wynter Gordon, Diana Gordon returns to R&B, releasing Pure, the first EP under her own name. After writing on Beyoncé’s Lemonade (penning the iconic line, “He better call Becky with the good hair”), this veteran singer-songwriter could only have written such a raw and mature self-produced, autobiographical EP. With great care and honesty, Gordon explores her troubled childhood and the lessons she’s learned as a black woman navigating a sexist music industry. While the arrangements are minimal, they leave room for her velvety yet powerful voice to bloom front-and-centre for a full cathartic release. 8/10 Trial Track: “Kool Aid”