The Foreign Exchange’s Tales From The Land Of Milk And Honey is probably my most anticipated album for the rest of this summer. Actually, considering how crappy the upcoming release schedule is, it might be my only anticipated album for the rest of the summer but never mind that. Whether on the soul-searching prog-R&B tip or the grown man hip-hop tip, Phonte and Nicolay always deliver the goods.

The first single from Milk and Honey may throw some folks for a loop, though. “Asking For A Friend” is a throwback house jam from the days of Ten City, Frankie Knuckles and Tony Humphries on KISS-FM at 2 AM on weekends in New York. Phonte also gets his best Idris Elba/Rockwell on in the chorus. As goofy as the affected accent is, it comes off well within the context of the song. The video is great too. Clearly, Phonte and Nic (and the rest of the extended FE family) aren’t taking themselves too seriously.

No, “Asking For A Friend” is not “Laughing At Your Plans”, but artists are supposed to be multi-faceted and have many different sides to their art, right? Prince is capable of doing “My Name Is Prince” and “Scandalous” and “Peach”, and the diversity is a major part of what makes him a genius.  While I’m sure there will be some more “traditional”-sounding joints on the FE’s new album, I’m not mad at this slight left turn.

Tales From The Land Of Milk And Honey will be out 8/21. Make sure you cop that.