•
Rating:
An afternoon, alas, more than a decade ago, I was sitting in my beloved and much-mourned armchair, immersed in that fabulous sleepy state -one eye open, one eye closed- that you too, reader, will soon experience as you continue reading -and don't say you weren't warned- when that little "know-it-all" Paola Maugeri on what was then Videomusic had a certain Keziah Jones perform a couple of live pieces, whom I, in the throes of youthful-postmetal after-effects -as well as slow digestion after-effects-, had never, and I mean never, heard of. He appeared as a trio, barefoot, half-naked and started spinning his wrist so fast that almost his hand couldn't be seen, and I was sure that wrist would unscrew and maybe -maybe!- fly into Paola's head. He plays one guitar but it sounds like three, it's "Million Miles From Home", and the sound envelops me with a fluidity, a clarity -thanks to a rhythm section precise as a tax- truly unique. I straighten up, listen better, the singing is warm, rich. There's a lot in that song: funky in tons, sure, but also a bit of r n' b, but above all, beyond the genres that our Mr. Jones touches on, there's so much style all immersed in a Black attitude, meant as approach, flavor, life. No wonder, I discovered later, this artist's roots are deeply sunk in Africa, Nigeria to be exact.
That same day I went to buy this album, and it was a huge surprise. "Colorful World", the second track, is ten minutes where the distorted, dirty guitar, supported by a consistent and crystal-clear rhythm, goes wild, stretching and retracting continuously over the rhythmic carpet. Keziah also demonstrates being a skilled writer of music, songs, and choruses, with fine vocal abilities, and great attention to detail. No wonder the choruses are very beautiful -and present everywhere-.
In a perfect alternation game, funky returns -flexible guitar- with the third track "Prodigal Funk", which then again gives way to another reflective and wonderful piece such as "Splash", where the rhythmic structure and the beautiful singing take the lead. It continues with pieces more traditionally funky -but still always tainted- and true distorted and suffering feasts like in the quarter-hour of "African Space Craft".
All the tracks, however, are splendid, and I like to highlight the even South American-like veins of "Speech" -one of the most beautiful episodes- and the sweet harmony of "If you know". all covered in black, funky, and an abundance of great style.
Underappreciated album by an underappreciated artist, who plays with soul.
Give it a try, if you haven't already fallen asleep.
Tracklist
Loading comments slowly
