Startisha

Naeem Juwan kept the party going for years with Spank Rock. The hyped-up rap project came into view in the mid-aughts and Juwan stayed in more or less the same gear for years, releasing high-energy shouts until retiring the project to focus on material that explored new approaches of both style and substance. Going now under only his first name, Naeems debut album, Startisha, is beautiful and reaching. Over the course of its nine songs, Juwan explores moody, textural R&B singing, subtle electronic-tinged songwriting, and even occasionally circles back to the mile-a-minute rap styles that defined Spank Rock, but with far more introspective and political lyrical content. In an unexpected tone-setting move, Startisha begins with a beautifully dark cover of the Silver Apples You and I. Naeems staked harmonies and distant delivery transform the songs original queasy paranoia into something tender and tragic. This segues directly into the mellow R&B/rap hybrid Simulation, a collaboration with Bon Ivers Justin Vernon and Swamp Dogg with an atmospheric beat placed firmly in the era post-Frank Oceans Blonde. The swing in styles between songs speaks to Naeems versatility. As the record goes on, he gets into Prince-esque R&B pop on songs like Us and the gracefully constructed title track. Stone Harbor is an album highlight, with a house-informed beat and unexpected stabs of horn culminating in a catchy slice of experimental R&B. Startisha is marked by Naeems adventurous exploration, as he moves from bounding pop to gentle balladry to abrasive rap without worrying about creating a through-line between his sometimes clashing creative directions. Startisha is stunning in its dexterity and range. Naeem always sounds comfortable, confident, and in complete control, even when presenting vulnerable emotions or taking his music places Spank Rock would have never dreamed of. ~ Fred Thomas

ボーイズノイズから2作目をリリースして以降はご無沙汰だったスパンク・ロックだが、そのMCであるナイーム・ジュワンが初のソロ名義作をリリース。ビートの傾向は違えど柔軟な語り口は健在。スワンプ・ドッグとジャスティン・ヴァーノンを迎えたブルージーなアンビエント"Simulation"、ヴェルヴェット・ネグロニとの不気味でドープな"Let Us Rave"などが並ぶなか、ノリでかますアマンダ・ブランクらとの"Woo Woo Woo"が良い。
bounce (C)轟ひろみ