A lot of skepticism can accompany any Earth, Wind & Fire cover, let alone the instantly recognizable melody of "September", but J Tropic and Alyss handle the ubiquitous tune with such fervent care that it takes a moment to fully realize this is the same inescapable song we've been subjected to for the past few decades. This alone should merit appreciation, as the two supplant a stand-alone rework with budding synths and smooth tones that encourage a reinvigorated interaction with the familiar cut. We can't say this was unexpected, though, as the singer-producer collaboration has already yielded two stunning showcases of R&B-meets-slick production ("Who U Are"/"Love Up"). With their "September" cover, both artists further establish themselves as promising new creatives we need to keep an eye on.
