The LA-based James scored a considerable dance hit with the title track to this, her debut album. “Rise” is the most catchy thing here, but the rest isn’t far off the mark — sultry yet earnest, mature dance-pop, given a sharp, clean polish by producer ROCAsound. James has been compared to Sade, Basia, and their ilk. Though her sound is more overtly danceable, her effortlessly romantic delivery makes her a reasonable successor, especially on the sultry “Breathe You In”. Throughout, James’ voice toes the line between blissful and laconic, sometimes hitting on both simultaneously. Thankfully, there’s not a bit of melisma to be found. The tasteful execution probably makes Rise sound more substantial than it really is, but still suggests James is worth keeping an eye on.