Sound advice
Always
curious to get a ‘first’ listen to an album that loads
of friends are keen to hear the fruits of? That’s how I
felt with N E R D’s latest offering Seeing Sounds.
Yes Pharrell [Williams], Chad Hugo and Shae Haley,
(self-described wunderkind) have risen it appears from the ashes
of Grammy glory to hit us with their third installment in the
N E R D story.
Seeing Sounds is a musical journey canvassing
smooth R n B, grinding Hip Hop and reminiscent soul-funk tastes
creep in, throughout this album too.
The trio suggest when making music, indeed albums,
they subscribe to: no rules, they adhere to no agenda, the way
they live their life, the way they see the world is captured in
their musical collaborations.
I’d be inclined to agree this time around.
The previous take on the world these lads delivered In Search
of, seemed a little hit and miss but this time I think they’ve
some substance behind what they’re doing.
The irony is however, Seeing Sounds means for Pharrell,
Chad and Shae that they aren’t interested in genres. So
disregard any earlier reference I’ve made to genres or stylins.
A
recurrent theme in the assembly of tracks is that they meld genres.
Anti Matter is a shining example of this. It has
a driving bass line coupled with some aggressive MC-ing. Coursing
through this revved up track is a prominent and gritty guitar
riff and the female vocals of Danielle Patterson complement the
attitude this song pervades.
As with many of the tracks on this album though,
don’t get too comfortable with an easily pigeon-holed rap
or hip hop track. This is because midway through alot of the songs
from Seeing Sounds there will be an interlude in key change and
tempo and the pace of the track will totally transform the song
into something new and then it will revert to it’s starting
pose. A clever assemblage of music for which N E R D have always
been synonymous.
Also worthy of mention is the track Sooner or Later.
A traditional R n B (Boyz II Men fans will love this one) rollaway
seeps its way under your skin but the lyrics are actually far
from romantic and dreamy, the paradox again quite clever.
Put this album on and enjoy the ride. From the get
go you’re set up for a rollercoaster of smooth rapping and
some phatter than phat, Hip Hop beats. The musical intensity builds
as does the emotional intent in these patriotic lad’s lyrics.
So you can choose whether or not to see the world the way N E
R D are seeing it currently, regardless you can escape into it
for a little while.
Ruth
Bailey
