SZA: Control review – dreamy and delicious insights into vulnerability

(RCA)Languid and soulful, the debut album from New Jersey singer SZA is an immersive dreamscape, book-ended poignantly with her mother’s musings on the subject of control. The obvious touchstone is the meandering R&B of Frank Ocean – these are delicious slow jams with delicate yet powerful vocals and intimate insights into femininity, self-esteem and youth. On Normal Girl, SZA laments that she isn’t one, while on Pretty Little Birds she candidly considers shaving her legs.