It’s been nearly three years since London’s Sampha Sisay dropped second solo EP Dual .
While surfacing on a leak of Kanye West‘s Saint Pablo and SBTRKT‘s Wonder Where We Land, the introverted artist’s social media channels have remained relatively silent since 2013.
Continuing his proclivity for a sparse blending of acoustic elements and electronica, Timmy’s Prayer builds over an infectiously laid-back groove. High-end synth hooks swirl around a distinctive blending of clean and processed vocals. As always it’s a less-is-more aesthetic that hammers Sampha’s introspective and heartbroken lyrics. Even by the artist’s standards it’s a subdued cut, but the UK producer is more than adept at working minimalism to his advantage.
Accompanying the new track is was a personal yet cryptic message to fans. “It’s been a while. I’ve had a lot to process these past couple of years, as we all do, and it’s hard to articulate sometimes. I wanted to say thank you to all the people who’ve shown me so much love and support. I’m looking forward to start sharing my music with you again,” Sisay reveals.
The artist’s words reflect the idea behind Timmy’s Prayer. It teases interest on what’s to come. Sampha has returned, but he isn’t willing to give too much away, just yet.
Image: Stereogum