![]() The diverse sound could be rewarding enough on its own, but McCalla takes aim at an unstable social and political climate with her lyrics, bringing emotional heft, and a powerful voice, to the proceedings. McCalla, a former cellist for the string-band Carolina Chocolate Drops, enlisted a revolving cast of musicians to create the lively stylistic blend of “The Capitalist Blues,” and the Haitian-American performer only enhances the international feel by shifting out of English from time to time. ![]() ++++++++++ 'Capitalist Blues' is a sound investmentĪlthough Leyla McCalla’s “The Capitalist Blues” has the gratifying vibrancy of a New Orleans-centered world music panorama, it’s important not to be swept away in the sonics and miss the point of the lyrics. “Outer Peace” also never wears out its welcome: The average song length is barely longer than 3 minutes, so if the propulsive dance strains of one song doesn’t suit you, something calmer will arrive before you can push “next.” Toro y Moi "Outer Peace" Rating: 4 (out of 5) Plus the atmosphere is always consistent, even if the air is dense in the wobbly “Laws of the Universe” and ethereally thin in the alluring closer “50-50.” Also, there’s taut passion in the spacey, steel-drum-punctuated “Baby Drive It Down” (“You know I want you now/You know I want you right now”), a tropical electro-shuffle on “Who Am I,” and breathy guest vocals from Abra in the drowsy, bird-call forest of “Miss Me.” And the subsequent “Ordinary Pleasure” is ripe with rhythmic funk, though Bundick’s modulated vocals offer the vibe of a robotic, Alexa-ish entity asking, “Does sex even sell anymore? I feel like I’ve seen it all.”Įlsewhere, Bundick’s simplistic vocal melody on “New House” is delivered with throbbing undulation and truncated length, giving the illusion of a brief nap accompanied by a vaguely weird dream. The busy and uplifting opening track “Fading,” for instance, has a Bruno Mars infectiousness kicking around, but Bundick’s vocals and wonky synths take the energy to an eccentric, clubby level. Yet “Outer Peace” is still refreshingly offbeat, building unexpected twists on top of familiar music tropes. Toro y Moi’s “Outer Peace” is in an inner orbit around the pop-music sun, but it’s still on another planet from the mainstream.Ĭhaz Bundick – who also goes by the Toro y Moi name – has edged his electronica into a more widely accessible realm with his new release, incorporating R&B to heat up his chillwave sound and bringing himself to the brink of a wide breakout. ![]() ++++++++++ 'Outer Peace' brings inner satisfaction Kate Bush "Remastered Part I and II" Rating: 5 (out of 5) ![]() Are the “remastered” albums a significant improvement? (Not really.) Why did some of her rarities still get left out, especially when there was room for more? (Good question.)īut little disappointments are lost in the overarching truth: Kate Bush has spent most of her life building a mind-bending universe of creativity and emotions, and there are few rewards greater than getting lost in her world. Both boxes also include booklets and lyrics, a novelty in this age of streaming, but a vital element to the Kate Bush experience. “Part II” features her three latest studio albums (including “Aerial”), the “Before the Dawn” live recording and a four CD collection of rarities and remixes – the latter of which will be irresistible to her fans.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |