Weighing of the Heart by Nabihah Iqbal (Review)

Nabihah Iqbal is many things: a human rights lawyer, a black belt in karate, and a regular DJ on England’s NTS online radio station where she showcases music from around the globe (due, no doubt, to her background in ethnomusicology). That last one makes sense when you listen to her Throwing Shade project, through which she creates what she calls “cosmic R&B,” a hazy blend of R&B, dance pop, and otherworldly electronica.

But Iqbal’s latest, Weighing of the Heart, is her first release under her own name. And not surprisingly, it’s a shift from “cosmic R&B” to a blend of guitar and electronics that evokes New Order (“Something More”), wiry ’80s post-punk (“Saw U Twice”), and Everything But the Girl’s forays into dance music (“Zone 1 to 6000,” “Untitled Friday”). Which is to say, it’s simply fantastic. And her voice, which moves from spectral to soulful, world-weary to fragile, only adds to the music’s enigma.

Although there are obvious touchstones and references throughout Weighing of the Heart, Nabihah Iqbal ultimately sounds like nobody so much as herself. Due no doubt to her long stints as a DJ, Iqbal is skilled at distilling and synthesizing her numerous influences in a way that feels familiar while also showcasing her own unique perspective.