Electric Café (En Vogue album)
| Company type | Studio album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | April 6, 2018 |
| Founder | En Vogue |
| Products | Music album |
| Parent | eOne Music, En Vogue Records |
Electric Café represents the seventh studio release by the American female vocal ensemble En Vogue, launched globally on April 6, 2018. This album marked their first full-length project in fourteen years and was their inaugural release under eOne Music alongside their proprietary imprint, En Vogue Records. The creative process for the album spanned from 2014 through 2018. The group collaborated once again with original producers Foster & McElroy for the majority of the production, supplemented by input from Raphael Saadiq, Dem Jointz, Taura Stinson, Kid Monroe, Ne-Yo, and Curtis "Sauce" Wilson. Additionally, rapper Snoop Dogg appears as a featured artist. Musically, Electric Café fuses elements of neo soul, pop, and contemporary R&B with influences drawn from electronic dance music.
Upon its release, the album garnered mixed critiques; reviewers commended En Vogue’s vocal delivery but criticized the collection for inconsistency and a generic feel. In the U.S., it entered at number 14 on Billboard’s Independent Albums chart and also appeared on the Top Album Sales rankings. On an international level, it charted on the UK Independent Albums list. The singles released from the album included "Deja Vu," "I'm Good," "Have a Seat," and the lead single "Rocket," which marked their first top 10 placement on Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs chart in over twenty years. To promote Electric Café, En Vogue conducted two European tours: the 2017 For the Love of Music Tour and a subsequent European Tour in 2018.
Background
In 2009, En Vogue’s original lineup reunited for the En Vogue: 20th Anniversary Tour, performing select shows across North America while announcing forthcoming music through Los Angeles-based Movemakers Entertainment and Funkigirl. Their appearance on A&E’s Private Sessions confirmed ongoing work on a new studio album. Following their 2011 reunion tour, Robinson chose not to participate in recording sessions due to unresolved business issues. On September 26, 2011, Ellis, Jones, and Herron released "I'll Cry Later," a single from an anticipated album scheduled for December that year. By May 2012, Jones departed amid disagreements concerning En Vogue’s contract with Rufftown Entertainment.
Bennett returned to the group in June 2012 and continued performing live. By July 2014, this trio had signed with Pyramid Records and produced the Lifetime musical Christmas film An En Vogue Christmas (2014), contributing two original tracks—"Emotions" and "A Thousand Times"—alongside a cover of "O Holy Night," all made available via iTunes. That same year marked the beginning of work on Electric Café, their first album of original material since Soul Flower.
In April 2015, Rufftown issued the EP Rufftown Presents En Vogue, containing four tracks recorded by Herron, Ellis, and Jones prior to 2012, including the previously unreleased single "I'll Cry Later". In 2016, Herron and Ellis established En Vogue Records and secured a distribution agreement with eOne Music to facilitate future releases.
Recording
The recording process for Electric Café commenced in 2014, becoming En Vogue’s most extended album creation period at approximately two and a half years. Initially envisioned as an electronic dance music project, the group reunited with founding producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy to oversee production. Each song was co-written by Bennett, Ellis, and Herron. Sessions took place primarily at FM Studios in Emeryville, California, with many vocal tracks captured at Foster’s residence. Herron highlighted the transition from analog to digital recording methods, noting a more relaxed approach that minimized multiple takes and eliminated dependence on autotune.
Touring commitments and contributions from additional collaborators—including Dem Jointz, Modern Future, Kid Monroe, Raphael Saadiq, and Taura Stinson—caused delays but also shifted the album toward a more classic contemporary R&B and soul sound. Dem Jointz and Taura Stinson each contributed two compositions; Saadiq co-wrote "I'm Good," which was recorded at Blakeslee Studios in North Hollywood. The final track completed was "Rocket," penned by Ne-Yo and produced by Curtis "Sauce" Wilson. Herron described Electric Café as a genre-spanning project rooted firmly in R&B while incorporating EDM influences to achieve an international appeal. The album’s title was retained to honor its dance music beginnings while embracing this eclectic sonic blend.
Critical reception
Andy Kellman from AllMusic awarded Electric Café three and a half stars, characterizing it as "a playful yet consistent compilation that transitions through different periods and genres with uplifting energy." He singled out the six tracks co-written by McElroy and Foster as the album's most daring moments, highlighting the smooth production despite the group's ambiguous position. Melody Charles, reviewer for SoulTracks, described the album as "both ambitious and enjoyable," commending En Vogue's signature multiple lead vocals and rich harmonies. Caroline Sullivan of the Guardian praised the record as "a revitalized songwriting approach paired with a sharp live performance feel."
Dominic Griffin of Spectrum Culture regarded Electric Café as "an exuberant return crafted with evident joy and inspiring assurance," emphasizing its straightforward song collection over commercial chart aims. Rachael Scarsbrook from Australian publication Renowned for Sound acknowledged moments where cohesion wavered but valued the band's ongoing dedication, suggesting the album primarily resonates with existing followers. Scott Perdue, editor at CommRadio of PennState, referred to it as "a promising addition to En Vogue’s catalog," noting some songs were overshadowed by electronic beats but affirming the group's continued relevance and potential for resurgence in today's music scene.
Chart performance
In the U.S., Electric Café entered and peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart dated April 21, 2018, marking En Vogue’s first chart entry since their 2004 release Soul Flower, which reached number 15. While this was their inaugural album to miss the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, it attained position 69 on Billboard's Top Album Sales chart. Globally, the album climbed to number 47 on the UK Independent Albums chart.
Several singles were released from Electric Café. The initial buzz single "Deja Vu" appeared in 2016, followed by promotional tracks "I'm Good" and "Have a Seat" featuring Snoop Dogg in 2017. The lead single "Rocket," launched in December 2017, peaked at number 10 on the US Adult R&B Songs chart in May 2018, becoming En Vogue’s first top ten entry there since 1997. It secured the 25th spot on the year-end Adult R&B Songs chart. The fifth and final single, "Reach 4 Me," released in August 2018, reached number 16 on the Adult R&B Songs chart.
Track listing
Notes
- Template:Note indicates co-producer
- Template:Note indicates vocal producer
- Template:Note indicates additional producer
Credits and personnel
Information on credits sourced from AllMusic.
- Dwayne Abernathy – songwriting, engineering, production
- Rhona Bennett – songwriting
- Gerry Brown – mixing
- Bobby Campbell – mixing
- Kevin KD Davis – mixing
- Terry Ellis – songwriting, executive producer
- Denzil Foster – songwriting, engineering, executive producer, production, vocal production
- Paul Grosso – art direction and design
- Koen Heldens – mixing
- Cindy Herron – songwriting, executive producer
- Hotae Alexander Jang – engineering, vocal production
- Diallobe Johnson – production
- Thomas McElroy – songwriting, engineering, executive producer, production, vocal production
- Kid Monroe – songwriting, production
- Jake Nochimow – production
- Isabella Peschardt – songwriting
- Candice Pillay – songwriting
- Zachary Rubin Rattet – production
- Steve Rusch – engineering
- Raphael Saadiq – songwriting, instrumentation, production
- Shaffer Smith – songwriting
- Snoop Dogg – vocals
- Taura Stinson – songwriting, production, vocal production
- Curtis "Sauce" Wilson – songwriting, engineering, production
Charts
Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart| Chart (2018) | Highest position |
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Release history
| Region | Release date | Format(s) | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worldwide | April 6, 2018 |
| |
| Japan | May 23, 2018 | CD | eOne |