Georgia Anne Muldrow – Olesi: Fragments of… (Instrumentals)
January 5th, 2007 by rui
Oh wow – where to start?!
Many may already be fairly familiar with the Stones Throw record label, beyond cool purveyors of the finest and most dynamic beats around. Natural home of world class artists like Peanut Butter Wolf, J Dilla (aka Jay Dee RIP), Aloe Blacc, Madlib, Dudley Perkins, Quasimoto, Madvillain and many others.
However, one of Stones Throw’s most recent signings and the only female artist on the rosta, Georgia Anne Muldrow, is probably new to most.
Tipped off by an excited Mixmaster Morris, she was without doubt a new name to me so I went shopping.
To start with I purchased the wholly instrumental, vinyl version of her acclaimed debut album ‘Olesi’, hoping to appreciate some of the subtleties in her music. You see, although a dazzling singer with a distinctive astral voice, she doesn’t only sing. Georgia is the daughter of a man who invented instruments for Eddie Harris and a woman who sang with The Pharaoh Saunders Ensemble and it immediately shows. She writes, produces and plays most of her music, including the synths, various instruments and all of the beats.
And oh wow those beats are so very dope.
In spirit, the tunes are a mix up mash of Afro, Bronx, P-funk, hip-hop, R&B, west coast, free jazz, avant-garde, funk and neo broken soul. The keyboard sometimes soars in an electro Herbie Hancock Autodrive way. The bass darts in and out like a lizard hunting and patrolling in the undergrowth, and oh mate those beats.
Wonky syncopation? I’ve never heard anything quite like it.
Enough about the music it’s far too challenging to describe.
In times gone by Gilles Petterson was playing her music on his radio program via demos that were only available at live shows. Peanut Butter Wolf picked her up around the springtime of 2006. Detroit’s Platinum Pied Pipers and Sa Ra have both previously hit her for collaborations. She’s had a bunch of respected EPs and guest tracks, including an appearance on the applauded Chrome Children LP. Georgia’s now beginning to achieve worldwide interest, her talent poised on the verge of blistering acknowledgment.
Personally, I’m looking forward to hearing much more of 22 year old Georgia Anne Muldrow and I’m not even addicted to her voice. Yet.
File under ‘A unique beat-driven legend in the making’, listen in bewilderment and try to drink it all in.
Simon Green
GEORGIA ANNE MULDROW – Olesi: Fragments (Instrumentals) (STH 2147) is out now on Stones Throw.
www.myspace.com/theworthnothingskrew
www.stonesthrow.com/georgia
