- Morphology – a new buzzword for the science of shifting and transforming or Afromystik’s new album? Probably both. Known primarily for rocking nu-jazz beats with distinct African and Latin flavours, Om Record’s Afromystik’s productions are comprised of dense beats choc full of percussion, fat slabs of funk and soul and bumpin’ basslines.
The first single lifted from the album Natural is a definite highlight – sexy female vocals on a lush samba beat and Rhythm Is - a sampladelic deep house thumper of latin beats and African tribal vocals. Afromystik feature guest MC, Capital A to present his lyrical flow on hip hop flavoured joints such as Who Are You? and Come Together. Nothing defines cool other than a little beat poetry and The Odyssey offers listeners a mix between melodic vocals and poetry.
Even the instrumentals sound good, allowing for a break in the album to highlight some of the deepest percussive breaks to emerge from the Bay Area – check tunes like Intersections for that jazzy flute line and Samba Del Alma - a manic serving of percussion done in Mardi gras/carnivale style.
Morphology even has some name checking ability thanks to Mr. Bungle’s Trevor Dunn on bass, Disposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy’s Simone White on drums, vocalists Omega, Liana Young and Gina Rene who have featured on many deep house tracks all led under the guiding hand of Chris Smith aka DJ Fluid aka head honcho of OM Records. Nu-jazz fetishists beware, Afromystik are up in the place, bringing chunky beats and phat bass to occupy your headspace - and the slick beats on Morphology do just that.
Highly recommended for those who like Jazzanova, Rainer Truby Trio and other nu jazz artists and offers a little something for fans of San Francisco’s deep house scene but are also looking to try variations from the four to the floor beat.