|
US duo Floetry's debut album was an unexpected
guest on the shortlist for the 2003 Mercury Music
Prize, but not on the evidence of its song writing
quality. Follow-up Flo'Ology, then, has a bit to live
up to.
Despite the dubious title the early signs are good,
the music into its stride immediately with a fusion of
silky smooth vocals and rapping that has the merest
hint of street attitude - a useful combination. Lines
like "wanna hit the solar of your plexus" promise much
on the lyrical front too, the two girls' voices
interlocking perfectly. The single Supastar is better
still, enlisting rapper Common for a cameo that
gives them more of a cutting edge.
However there are signs of deterioration in Closer
that begin to affect, but not completely mar, the rest
of the album. These two girls have gorgeous singing
and rapping voices - nicely understated, not too rich
and overbearing - but too many tracks begin with a low
register spoken word intro, which at first comes
across as inward looking but then begins to breed what
sounds like indulgence. Closer works as there's an
edge to the spoken word, the music soulful yet sharp,
but Feelings, despite its obvious profundity, takes
the softly softly approach too far. Sometimes U Make
Me Smile does the same, projecting a worthiness that
doesn't sit well with what's gone before.
That said there are still many good things on this
record, and the girls' willingness to experiment with
overtones of dancehall secures the curiously upbeat
album closer Waiting In Vain, opening up nicely in the
chorus. I'll Die, too, makes a statement with its soft
yet regimented vocal delivery, a strict license
against improvisation working well. The duo also show
that making a sexy track needn't be about the obvious
come-on, more subtle implications, as Lay Down proves,
whispering its way through various rooms in the house
with rather more appeal than the cleaning rota.
Neither of the duo have the most powerful of
singing voices, but that's not meant as a criticism,
more an observation that they work this to their
advantage in the music, with My Apology a good example
of their slightly darker take on modern RnB, no
concern with bling but more of a focus on feelings and
attitudes. It's a shame they overindulge on the
breathy musings, but their overall quality still
manages to shine through.
Comments
|
 |
|
more 