It’s no secret to close followers of the R&B scene that this genre of music has stagnated over the past few years. 

While there are notable exceptions (The Weeknd for instance), the fusion between modern R&B and trap music has made for some very formulaic and uninspired albums and artists gaining prominence in recent history.

Fortunately, Canadian singer/producer duo dvsn and highly-touted Californian songwriter Ty Dolla $ign is here to take R&B back to its roots on their aptly named collaboration Cheers to the Best Memories.

The opening track (and second lead single) Memories, is an up-tempo, joyful affair from its outset, as Ty expresses his desire to “make some memories” with his companion for this occasion.

While no R&B album would be truly complete without some heavy allusions to passion and desire for another, the trio manages to maintain a sense of tastefulness and elegance in their music – something which has often been missing from other artists' repertoire. It is in this aspect of the project where the producer-half of the dvsn dynamic duo, Nineteen85, is really allowed to make his mark.

85 is undoubtedly no stranger to the big-time and has collaborated with arguably the biggest name in the R&B/hip-hop scene, Drake, on some of his biggest hits such as One Dance and Hotline Bling. Creating the perfect atmosphere for a singer to work within is simply his bread and butter, and the track Don’t Say a Word is the quintessential exemplification of this. 

The synth-heavy beat and booming drums envelope the vocal performances of both Dolla $ign and dvsn’s other half, singer Daniel Daley. So much so that one almost manages to completely ignore the relatively simplistic and repetitive lyrical structure.

Complex and detailed wordplay and verse structure has never been either of these artists' strong suits and for the extremely observant listener, this might be a source of consternation.

But realistically, no one is listening to Ty Dolla $ign for his complexity and depth, they’re listening because the man can flat-out sing. And track after track on this record, he does just that.

His ability to match his vocal style to any instrumental laid out in front of him is remarkable. Whether it’s the deep and mellow pitch of Outside or the fast-paced, Latin-inspired guitars on Somebody That You Don’t Know, Ty finds exactly the right vocal range and measure to maximise the production brilliance of dvsn. Rauw Alejandro’s crooning performance on the front end of the latter track is to be commended as well.

Wedding Cake is perhaps the pinnacle of this album’s experience. 85’s subtle yet intricate instrumental provides the perfect backdrop for the two singers’ complimentary styles. While Ty has another opportunity to demonstrate his incredible range and versatility, Daley thrives with his unhurried and smooth cadence. The back-end of this track serves as a reminder that this is a collaboration album, as 85 weaves Daley and Ty’s voices together in a contrasting yet beautiful symphony.

The final track is supposed to be the holy grail of this project, as the three collaborators secure a feature performance from the dearly departed rap icon Mac Miller. 

Ty seems unusually uncomfortable on the opening portion of this track, as the fuller and high-volume backing seems to give him little room to work his magic. For both his and Daley’s verse, the instrumental seems to be mixed higher than their vocals.

The problem is only exacerbated when Mac’s verse arrives. Of the three, his voice is the least equipped to deal with a loud backing track. It’s an unfortunate end to an otherwise incredible album, and a real shame 85 couldn’t quite do the late rapper justice.

Despite of a few flaws, Cheers to The Best Memories does what it set out to do; take R&B back to where it’s supposed to be. Ty Dolla $ign once again cements himself as a force in the R&B/hip-hop zeitgeist, while dvsn further proves their credentials both as vocalists and producers.

Cheers To The Best Memories is available now on all streaming services.