Floetic

Singing "songstress" Marsha Ambrosius and spoken-word "floacist" Natalie Stewart have concocted a smooth, sultry, and soulful album with the help of producers Darren "Limitless" Henson, Keith "Keshon" Pelzer, Vidal Davis, Ivan "Orthodox" Barias, and Andre "Dirty" Harris, whose combined credentials include Bilal and Jill Scott. The album includes some faster hip-hop tracks such as "Opera," but it tends toward mid-tempo grooves and slow jams with an warm, after-dark chill-out feel. The music is classy and sleek, not raucous or abrasive, and Stewart even says to "turn the music down" during "Headache." The duo may sing about bringing the vibe "from SC5 to Philly's Westside" ("Floetic"), but they also dwell a lot on personal heartache; sample lyrics include "I cry oceans" ("Headache") and "so much pain and misery" ("If I Were a Bird"), and even "Fun" is hooked around the phrase "this isn't my idea of fun." Ambrosius and Stewart are both adept at their respective vocal techniques, but their main strength is the interplay between their two voices; this interplay, like the album in general, is a good demonstration of how contrasting styles can be brought together to form an appealing whole. This CD includes two bonus tracks: the demo version of "Butterflies" (which was a hit when performed by Michael Jackson) and a collaboration with Sebastian Rogers on "Now You're Gone (More Than I Can Feel)." ~ Todd Kristel

ニューオーリンズの〈House Of Blues〉におけるライヴ音源に、新曲3曲を収録したフロエトリーの新作。新曲中の目玉はモス・デフをフィーチャーした“Wanna B Where U R”で、両者の相性の良さを証明した好アップだ。が、デビュー作『Floetic』からの楽曲をパフォームしたライヴ音源はもっと凄い!　予想以上に熱く黒いヴォーカル、シャープなラップに確かな実力を実感させられる。その圧巻映像はボーナスDVDで!
bounce (C)佐藤 ともえ

マイケル・ジャクソン最新アルバムからのヒット“Butterflies”の作者としても知られるロンドン出身シンガー・ソングライター・デュオのファースト・アルバムは、彼女たちお気に入りの地、フィラデルフィアにて制作。アンドレ・ハリスとヴィダル・デイヴィスを中心としたプロデューサー陣の仕事ぶりもさることながら、ラップと歌を自由に行き来する2人のスタイルは新鮮で相当魅力的。今後の活躍も楽しみだ。
bounce (C)佐藤 ともえ