2017 release. Things are happening. It's a perpetual truth and something of a mysterious, even ominous, sentiment as it applies to XL Middleton's follow up to Tap Water. Fittingly, the content of Things Are Happening strays down darker or more cynical paths than it's predecessor, and in doing so takes the modern funk ethos as a whole beyond tried and true formulas such as love songs or spiritual anthems. The grooves remain up-tempo; the synth work is still warm and percussive. But, there's a heavier story to tell, and greater truths to face. Some might argue that the internalized nature of Things Are Happening is badly timed, with the hyper-politicized environment we are now living in almost demanding social commentary in art above all else. However, this album is a reminder that, no matter who the president is or what global woes we are facing, we also exist outside of the collective mind and have our own individual stories to tell.