Frank Ocean Memrise: Listen to the singer’s first solo work in two years.

Here’s “Memrise,” Frank Ocean’s First Solo Song in Two Years

Here’s “Memrise,” Frank Ocean’s First Solo Song in Two Years

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Brow Beat
Slate's Culture Blog
Nov. 30 2014 12:53 PM

“Memrise” Is Frank Ocean’s First Solo Song in Almost Two Years

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Ocean.

Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Images for Coachella

Since the release of Channel Orange, his lauded debut album, Frank Ocean has kept a relatively low profile. He’s had one or two home-run collaborations—“Superpower,” the doo-wop tune he wrote for Beyoncé’s self-titled album, is a perfect ballad and perhaps Beyoncé’s best song—but for the most part he’s shirked public appearances to work on new material. Now we have a small taste of that work: Ocean’s released “Memrise,” a lo-fi effort that’s also his first solo song in almost two years.

What we hear probably isn’t a final cut—the track has a slight, unfinished feel, with ambient production cloaking Ocean’s croon. But it's exciting, innovative stuff, and Ocean employs a catchy stop-start delivery that’s as much syncopation as singing. Expectations should be very high for his sophomore album.  

Sharan Shetty is on the editorial staff of the New Yorker. You can follow him on Twitter