AFROPHYSICS - The AP EP: Truthsayers - 2007 - EP review

AFROPHYSICS – The AP EP: Truthsayers – 2007 – EP review
TRACKS: Destiny – 1,2 & 3 – School Days Pt 2 – AP Freeform Afrobeat – Destiny Acoustic Refix – 1-2 & 3 Grade 4 Remix
HIGHLIGHTS: 1-2 & 3 – School Days
SOUNDBITE: I was that funky black kid from around the way/ Who never came out to play
RATING: 4/5
Conscious lyrics? A live band laying down funky Afro-beat sounds? That’s right - it’s hip-hop fusion time everyone! The Fela/ Femi Kuti influences are clear in Leeds’ Afrophysics’ sound and not in a bad way as they snatch the genre from the failing grasp of Ozomatli, adding a more ‘street’ edge and a sussed frontwoman along the way. Aiwan (that’s ‘I-Wan’) both raps and sings and although a British accent sounds unusual over this kind of backing it works – especially the rapping which kind of made me think what Bahamadia might sound like if she were from the UK. Overall, The EP has a solid organic bass sound and nice melodic vocal hooks as a musical platform for songs that explore social issues. First track Destiny has a rocky edge to it’s afro-funkiness though there’s something a bit ‘early-nineties’ about it that I can’t quite place my finger on. School Days sounds like upbeat acoustic ska played by Brazilians and finds Aiwan reflecting on how the formative nature of her – er - school days, while AP Freeform Afrobeat comes on like the light-hearted instrumental prelude to an evening of Santeria chicken-slaughtering. It’s second track 1-2 & 3’s rockier stop-startiness that really brings it though – grooving like an afro-centric Luscious Jackson with subdued rapped verses and soaring chorus. Oh and they generously bung on remixes of both Destiny and 1-2 & 3 too. Consequently - if you like to throw one out, AND going to WOMAD you’ll be all over this - but even if you don’t - you might quite like it anyway.
Out 30 June 2007.
RELATED LINKS
Listen to Afrophysics - The AP EP
Afrophysics - Myspace
www.afrophysics.com
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