A Constant Charade is the follow-up to
Circmvnt, an album
Elujay wrote in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. The singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer grappled simultaneously with the virus and a case of mononucleosis, and though he made that 2022 offering with remote assistance -- the process changed his previously negative view toward online collaboration -- it was a work of isolation by any other measure. This set is more on an interpersonal level, with the title alluding to the ways people conceal their true selves, whether code-switching in everyday interactions or being less than 100-percent real in relationships. Aided by a contingent of two dozen fellow writers and producers,
Elujay also refines and further layers his sound here, remaining a progressive R&B artist with subtle hints of everything from early-'80s soft rock and scruffy dream pop to house and drum'n'bass in the mix. Out of all the associates involved, co-writer and guitarist
Nicholas Creus is the one whose impact is most evident, spinning dewy webs of sound that are clearer and more jazz-rooted than those of
Mk.gee. They mesh well with
Elujay's voice, an instrument that maintains a pacifying quality even in moments of frustration, uncertainty, and heartache. The effect is most stirring in "Hyundai," a drifting, bittersweet ballad that all but levitates.
Elujay examines and attempts to understand the behavior of a love interest before closing with "Are you running from all that you ask for?," and he makes it sound like a sweet nothing. Several other songs here are among the Oakland native's finest. The relatively driving "Flotilla" seems designed for chasing the horizon (while admitting self-distrust and considering a breakup). "Jenny's Lament," built on a spring-loaded beat with a passing resemblance to anything that samples the deathless "Ashley's Roachclip" break, brilliantly conveys deep affection and unbearable longing. Some listeners might miss the reggae and higher BPMs
Elujay has effectively deployed on his own and as one-half of
Jems! with
J.Robb, but this is his artistic peak thus far, a softly glowing delight from front to back. ~ Andy Kellman
