ANeed
$9.99
Aneed might be as close as you'll ever get to a Vaughn Benjamin solo release, as the singer not only writes, sings, and co-produces the set, but he also plays almost all of the instruments. On half of the tracks, in fact, he does play them all himself. The album is what we've come to expect from Midnite lately: slow, dark, deep, dense. You might need to be in the mood to enjoy it fully, but once you start listening, it sucks you in with its jazzy atmosphere and meditative beauty. Songs like "Due," "Chapta," and "Keep Yure Love" make you feel like you're sitting in the corner of a smoky jazz club; it's the type of gutsy fusion that few artists would ever dare, much less pull off successfully. Even if the occasional tune proves a bit too hard to grasp (like the borderline atonal "Job"), Benjamin's effort is admirable, with a bold, fiercely independent streak and an artistry that is as potent as any you'll find today. Highlights of Aneed include the title track, which melds acoustic guitar and jazzy keys with an oh-so subtle hip-hop edge, "Earth," with its lovely roots riddim (used also on Xkaliba's "Jah Rescue Me"), "Jai," one of of Midnite's most heartfelt songs ever, and "To Live," as close to bouncy as you'll get on this set. The dark, rumbling bass of "Tri" and "Airful" close out the album nicely. Counting the Midnite Branch I offerings, Midnite has released about 3 albums a year for the past 8 years, and I keep waiting for them to slip, but they continue to prove consistent in their dedication to the legacy of quality Cruzan reggae.
Add Album To Cart
|
