It's hard to think of anything Nao could do wrong. She was easily one of the strongest acts at Auckland's Laneway Festival in 2017, when her debut For All We Know was still on high rotate. Two years after that record, she's back with Saturn, which distills her sound where FAWK favoured explosive highs. Saturn is the stronger work as a result; it marks considerable growth for Nao's artistry, more considered in its restraint and less-is-more approach.
Fans of Nao's distinctly honeyed voice will be pleased to hear it's still her strongest tool on Saturn. The production is mostly rooted in RnB, but pulls from elements of pop, funk and soul; Nao's voice is the cement that brings each element together. Early track Make It Out Alive takes Pharrell-inspired production and pours a rich amount of reverb and soft synths inside, with an irresistibly hooky chorus that makes being stuck in a relationship rut sound enticing. Bouncy title track Saturn offers a classic-pop, slow-tempo duet for Nao and Kwabs; it rivals H.E.R and Daniel Caesar's incredible two-hander Best Part.
Those after the dancefloor bops from FAWK will still find plenty to love here – the groovy, bass-infused Gabriel shares DNA with early single Bad Blood, while Orbit offers Nao another emotional centrepiece to show off her lyrical prowess and the sensitivity she displayed in her early work. Saturn wins with its ability to showcase all of Nao's talents without resorting to flashiness – without losing any of her irresistible vibrant colours in the process.
