After an uneven and rocky stint on American Idol in 2011, I did not expect Jacob Lusk to re-emerge a decade later fronting one of the most exciting soul debuts in recent years.

Gabriels are a Los Angeles-based trio comprising Lusk and producers Ryan Hope and Ari Balouzian. The trio have been slowly generating buzz with two EP releases in 2021, their cult popularity catalysed in the UK by their staggering performance of ‘Love and Hate in a Different Time’ on Later… With Jools Holland. 

Angels & Queens Part I (its successor will be released in March 2023) marks the trio’s debut album. It is replete with cinematic soundscapes that are sometimes sparse and grippingly still, but other times lavishly orchestrated and layered, with nods to jazz, chamber pop, and funk. The title track, the highlight of the record, pulses with 80s synths, recalling Sign “☮︎” the Times-era Prince. Though Lusk’s voice is limitless, he demonstrates a restraint and nuance that sometimes eluded him on American Idol. He relishes in lust and desire on ‘Taboo’, orchestrated with eerily discordant strings. ‘If You Only Knew’, an homage to Lusk’s late godsister, swells with a pseudo-spiritual intensity and sees Lusk tap more overtly into his gospel background. Though the hooks sometimes fall short of ear-worms, the piece is nonetheless packed with sonic delights. ‘Mama’ closes the album with an emotional gut-punch from Lusk.