Frank Ocean Releases Ethereal Visual Album ‘Endless’

Matt Matasci

It’s not just the length of time that has passed since Frank Ocean‘s acclaimed debut “Channel Orange” that has made the four year wait for new music so excruciating. Rather, Ocean’s fans hearts have been broken time and again by numerous threatened released dates which have come and gone so many times that some have been speculating whether he would ever release another album. Ocean recently indicated that release of his next album “Boys Don’t Cry,” was imminent, but after an official date was announced earlier this month and nothing appeared, the entire music world threw their hands up in exasperation.

Here we are again, charging headlong into a weekend in which a new Frank Ocean album is expected to be released, and, finally, this one comes with actual music and, taking a cue from Beyoncé, a long-form music video that is being billed as a “visual” album titled “Endless.”

Instead of a series of connected vignettes which build into a narrative, “Endless” appears to be one long 45-minute metaphor. Filmed by Francisco Soriano, the video will look familiar to those who tuned into the live-stream featured on the singer’s website over the last few weeks. Three identical Frank Oceans are hard at work building, well, something. As the album progresses their efforts are revealed to be a spiraling staircase which the singer ascends and disappears in a flash of purple. Anti-climatically, the video returns to the opening shots, studio empty and work ready to commence once again.

“Endless” opens with a cover-of-a-cover. Ocean treats listeners to a version of The Isley Brothers’ “At Your Best (You Are Love)” filtered by way of the late Aaliyah’s slow-burning modern R&B rendition. Adding to the dramatic quality of the cover are the sweeping string arrangements and synthesizer courtesy of Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood and James Blake, respectively.

“Alabama” is the first original new music that the visual album offers, with overlapping layered vocals pushing through the mix and features an appearance from Sampha. “U-N-I-T-Y” showcases Ocean’s ability to adopt a more hip-hop style cadence, taking the chilled out jazz guitar-driven beat and transforming it into a compelling rap song. “Comme Des Garçons” is a bright ballad written for Ocean’s ex-boyfriend, who unsurprisingly, was a major influence on his recent music. “Hublots” features the warm vocals of Jazmine Sullivan and ethereal R&B instrumentation.  “Whither,” “Rushes To” and “Slide On Me” feature acoustic guitar from indie rock lifer Alex G, likely to bring the little-known guitarist the most publicity of his career. “Rushes To” is a gorgeously simple song, with Ocean’s vocals layered over a simple finger-picked acoustic guitar figure. The album concludes with “Higgs,” a straightforward cut that is marked by more rapping from the singer.

While “Endless” may not completely satiate the craving for more music from R&B sensation Ocean, most regard it as an appetizer for what is to come this weekend. No matter what “Boys Don’t Cry” may end up being titled Ocean has already released one of the most compelling R&B sets of the year with this visual album.

The “Endless“ visual album is available exclusively on Apple Music as of Aug. 18.

Update: Frank Ocean dropped his first single and video “Nikes” video off of his new album early Saturday morning and released “Blonde” exclusively via Apple Music Aug. 19. Watch “Nikes” via Ocean’s website.