News of Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak‘s new collaborative partnership, Silk Sonic, surprised and excited listeners. But with both dabbling in soul, funk, and R&B, it makes perfect sense.

It is difficult to deny the magic of ‘Leave the Door Open’ – Silk Sonic’s first release – and its beautiful harnessing of soul music conventions. The sounds of Philadelphia soul, in particular, are unmistakeable. Silk Sonic owes aplenty to the falsetto-wielding soul groups of the 1960s and 70s. As academic and self-described ‘aggregator of Black culture’ Mark Anthony Neal rightly tweeted: ‘Blue Magic, the Main Ingredient, The Delfonics, The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites, The Spinners, The Intruders, etc. — just listen to them first, is all I’m saying. That’s what archives are for.’

‘Leave the Door Open’ is a shimmering four minutes of ethereal harmonies, lush instrumentation, and doting lyrics tempered with an occasionally naughtiness (‘You’re so sweet / So tight / I won’t bite / Unless you like‘). Both .Paak and Mars are in great voice. Mars paces himself, opting for falsetto in the first chorus before tapping into the range and grit of his full voice.

Image Copyright: Aftermath Entertainment and Atlantic Recording Corporation