Following a pair of phenomenal albums from
Adrian Younge
-- the
Black Dynamite
soundtrack and
Venice Dawn
's
Something About April
-- the label wing of indispensable music publication
Wax Poetics
rolls on with soul singer and taxidermy enthusiast
Kendra Morris
. Like
Younge
,
Morris
is infatuated with late-'60s and early-'70s psychedelic R&B and funk, and a little rock is added to the mix with help from producer/guitarist
Jeremy Page
and a steady backing band (which includes the rhythm section from
Page
That Handsome Devil
).
recorded burning, tripped-out
Pink Floyd
and
Metallica
covers, and she performed
Funkadelic
's "I'll Bet You" with legendary Detroit session guitarist
Dennis Coffey
. The third song is what's in her wheelhouse. In fact, considering her elegantly gusty style, she recalls
Parliament
/
associate
Ruth Copeland
; some of these songs would not be out of place on either one of
Copeland
Invictus
albums. Most compelling of all is "Concrete Waves," with deceptively confrontational verses over a tiptoeing backdrop that ramp up into a creepy, spell-casting chorus. When it comes to "If You Didn't Go," parallels aren't as easy to draw; as an instrumental, it might be considered easy listening soul, but
projects an affecting feather-light melody that sounds utterly singular. A couple of relatively modern-sounding, borderline MOR songs lack the sting present in the more haunting material. That
refers to herself as a banshee seems accurate, though she's too controlled to wail. Anyone who values
Amy Winehouse
Back to Black
Raphael Saadiq
Stone Rollin'
, or
Alice Smith
For Lovers, Dreamers & Me
should check this. ~ Andy Kellman