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**Natalie Prass: The Future And The Past**
★★★★☆

When Natalie Prass emerged from Richmond, Virginia's fertile music scene in 2015 with her self-titled debut, she seemed like a gorgeous anachronism—a voice that could have stepped out of a Dusty Springfield session, backed by lush orchestrations that recalled the golden age of Motown and Philadelphia soul. That album, produced with meticulous care by Matthew E. White, was a stunning introduction that positioned Prass as a retro-soul revivalist with serious chops. But anyone expecting her to remain comfortably nestled in that vintage aesthetic was in for a shock.

*The Future And The Past*, Prass's sophomore effort released in 2018, is the sound of an artist refusing to be pigeonholed. Gone are most of the sweeping string arrangements and old-school soul flourishes that defined her debut. In their place, Prass has crafted something far more contemporary and urgent—a politically charged, groove-heavy statement that draws from funk, R&B, and even touches of electronic music. It's a bold pivot that could have easily backfired, but instead reveals an artist coming into her full power.

The transformation began during the tumultuous period following the 2016 election. Prass has spoken candidly about how the political climate, combined with personal upheavals including a breakup and financial struggles, fundamentally changed her approach to music-making. Where her debut was introspective and romantic, *The Future And The Past* crackles with righteous anger and social consciousness. This isn't just a sonic evolution—it's a complete artistic rebirth.

The album opens with "Oh My," a synth-funk burner that immediately signals this new direction. Built around a hypnotic bassline and punctuated by sharp electronic flourishes, it's a mission statement disguised as a dance track. Prass's vocals, always her strongest asset, have gained a new edge—she's still capable of stunning beauty, but now there's steel underneath the silk. The song tackles themes of female empowerment and self-determination with a directness that would have been unthinkable on her debut.

"Short Court Style" might be the album's most successful fusion of Prass's past and future selves. Here, she layers her trademark harmonies over a groove that's part Prince, part Janet Jackson, creating something that feels both timeless and thoroughly modern. It's a showcase for her evolved songwriting, which has gained complexity without sacrificing accessibility. Meanwhile, "The Fire" burns with political fury, its minimalist arrangement allowing Prass's vocals and message to take center stage. When she sings "The fire's gonna come for you," it feels less like a threat than a promise.

The album's emotional centerpiece might be "Lost," a devastating ballad that strips away most of the electronic elements to focus on raw vulnerability. Here, Prass proves that her artistic growth hasn't come at the expense of her ability to break hearts. It's a reminder that beneath all the funk and fury, she remains one of contemporary music's most gifted emotional interpreters.

Not every experiment succeeds completely. Some tracks feel slightly undercooked, as if Prass was still finding her footing in this new sonic territory. The album occasionally suffers from a lack of the dynamic range that made her debut so compelling—when everything is turned up to ten, the peaks can feel less impactful. But these are minor quibbles with an album that succeeds brilliantly at its primary goal: establishing Prass as an artist willing to take risks.

*The Future And The Past* stands as a crucial bridge in Prass's discography, connecting the vintage soul revivalist of her debut to the more adventurous artist she would become on 2021's *Bunny*, an album that pushed even further into experimental territory while maintaining the political edge she discovered here. In retrospect, this middle album feels essential—the moment when Prass stopped looking backward for inspiration and started creating her own future.

The album's legacy lies not just in its individual songs, but in its demonstration that artistic evolution doesn't have to mean abandoning what made you special in the first place. Prass didn't lose her gift for melody or her stunning vocal ability; she simply found new ways to deploy them. In an era when many artists play it safe, *The Future And The Past* stands as a testament to the power of creative courage.