Erykah Badu “New Amerykah”

It’s been one week since the official (American) release of Erykah Badu’s fourth album (still nowhere to been seen in NZ stores – what’s the delay?), “New Amerykah”. The artwork – retro psychadelic funk-fuelled – reflects a theme that weaves itself in and out of the course of the album right from the opening “Amerykahn Promise”. Following the introduction of the new theme, it slips back into the familiar self-reflective, empowering style heard on her previous albums. The Healer sounds like it was custom-built to be the opening track of a live Erykah Badu performance (which it was, back in Los Angeles – July ‘07) with it’s prayer-like mantra floating over stripped back and heavily-muted instrumentation of chimes and slowly-dropping bassline.

The nervous, uneasy and off-kilter My People wedges itself inbetween the more-familiar-styled (and commercially-friendly) Me and Soldier (cued to be the second single). Insanity starts to creep in on overloaded-funk piece The Cell, with its disturbing slurred claim of “we’re not well” and catchy chorus. The disjointed Twinkle follows with vocals that trap themselves in a radio, break free and spin out of control, and Master Teacher is a confused P-funk monster fighting in a mudpool of sloshy hip hop that unexpectedly cleans itself off half way through to resemble a long-lost track from her Baduizm-debut with mellow key lines, rim shots and sweet harmonies.

Rounding of the album, the first in a series with part two due mid-year, are a couple of raw soul-soaked pieces. That Hump walks along an emotional path of internal dialogue filled with struggle, while the closing Telephone slows things down even further to deliver a simmering 7-plus minute ode to those passed; “Just fly away to heaven brother, save a place for me; Fly away to heaven brother, put in a word for me”.

Bonus track, also known as the first single from the album, Honey officially ends Part One of New Amerykah. By no means an easy initial-listen, but one that pays off over time and delivers some of the freshest and original soul music you’ll currently hear.

Links: Offical Erykah Badu Site | Erykah-Badu.com (frequently updated)

stuff stuff up

I remember several years back when actresses spoke out against the ’sexist’ term and requested to be called ‘actors’ instead… i’ve never heard of a reverse case, but local news site Stuff messed up today with an article headlined “Killer blow for Shorty St actress”…