“Hive Mind” by The Internet

It’s the 5th anniversary of The Internet’s R&B masterclass, full of irresistible soulful moments.

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If The Internet’s 2015 breakthrough, Ego Death, announced the group’s arrival as a top-tier R&B outfit, then 2018’s Hive Mind solidified their reputation as masters of modern soul/funk. It’s also a far more mature record than Ego, tempering nostalgic, often slow-burn instrumentals with lyrics that deal with unease and longing. As their lead vocalist, Syd projects the kind of effortless sensuality reminiscent of Erykah Badu and Miguel, simultaneously laid-back and laser-focused. The most impressive part of her performance is how it melds perfectly with the lush grooves that support it. Nothing ever feels forced or out of step with her environment.

Part of me wants to pin the neo-soul tag on this record, partly because it’s such a clear starting point inspiration-wise. Tracks like “Roll (Burbank Funk),” “Come Over,” and the glittering “Stay the Night,” where Syd tries to talk her lover out of ditching her for an Uber, pay loving affection to 70s and 90s R&B archetypes. But, then again, this record also sounds distinctly modern, with samples and loops that break from tradition and place the overall sound firmly in the 21st century. Taken together, both considerations fuel the group’s warm, irreplaceable dynamic that helps make this one of the decade’s standout ensemble pieces.

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