The Heart, The Mind, The Soul

ファンクやヒップホップ、ゴスペル、ロックの要素を昇華し力強くポジティヴなメッセージを届けるニューオーリンズ出身の4人組、タンク・アンド・ザ・バンガスの新アルバム。

これまで3部構成でデジタル・リリースしてきたスポークン・ワード・コレクション「The Heart, The Mind,The Soul]がフィジカルでは1枚のCD,LPにまとまった形でてリリース。(ボーナストラック1曲あり)

このアルバムには、タンクによる新しい詩と、ジェイムズ・ポイザー、ロバート・グラスパー、イマン・オマリ、ブライアン・ロンドン、オースティン・ブラウンらといった著名なプロデューサーとの共同作業によるトラックを収録。

The Heart, The Mind, The Soul is a collaborative spoken-word project from Tank and the Bangas, or Tank and the Banga, given that the group is down here to a duo of Tarriona "Tank" Ball and multi-instrumentalist Norman Spence. It was rolled out in increments, then combined as one newly sequenced set rather than bolted together. The Heart portion was made with production from James Poyser, whose work as part of the Soulquarians and the Roots, and collaborations with dozens of other artists, has been a major inspiration for the New Orleans natives. Tank and Spence first make room for another influence, Jill Scott, whose characteristic elegant words fill "A Poem Is" and warm up the listeners for what follows -- a program that is nearly as full-sounding as the groups other studio efforts and doesnt skimp on sung hooks and backgrounds. The best of the Poyser material is "Enjoy the Ride," a glowing reflection on a once-promising shiftless ex. Next came The Mind, three tracks made with Iman Omari (SiR, Mac Miller, Kendrick Lamar). "They Dont See/Whole Foods" is part kaleidoscopic pop, part beatdown house, and features poet Aja Monet, relaxed if ardent, as much as it does Ball, who poetically rattles off what she wants to do to improve her mental and physical health. The third component is The Soul, produced by and featuring contemporary jazz heavyweight keyboardist Robert Glasper. These songs werent given a separate release and bring up the rear (though a Yaya Bey-assisted cut from The Mind is placed between the first two and second two). They complement the Omari tracks and are even more a natural fit with those handled by Poyser. (Glasper and Poysers extensive work together goes at least as far as Bilals 1st Born Second.) The standout is the mellow-shuffling "Remember" with vocal dynamo Samara Joy in her lower register and Ball at her most athletic. Her rapid-fire work on "Youre In Way Over Her Head" contains the most riveting send-ups of nonsensical criticism since "Can the Sub_Bass Speak?" by Algiers. ~ Andy Kellman

これまでのEP3部作をまとめたアルバムで、3作それぞれのプロデューサーにはジェイムズ・ポイザー、イマン・オマーリ、ロバート・グラスパーらが就くという豪華布陣だ。ライヴ・バンドとしての評価も高いが、今作ではポエトリー・リーディングを中心に据えた構成になっている。ジル・スコットを迎えた"A Poem Is"の穏やかなネオ・ソウルで幕開けし、心地良い浮遊感のあるR&Bを経て、グラスパーによるジャズまで、各プロデューサーが提供するメロウなサウンドに乗せて時にたおやかに時に歯切れ良く言葉を紡いでゆく。聴くたびに豊かな余韻が残って熟していくような、じっくり味わいたい一作だ。
bounce (C)池谷瑛子