Yussef Kamaal: Black Focus

Rating: ★★

Record and Artist Details

Musicians:

Yussef Dayes (d)
Henry Williams (ky)

Label:

Brownswood

Dec/Jan/2016/2017

RecordDate:

2015

South Londoners Yussef Dayes and Henry Williams draw inspiration from 1970s fusion trademarked by the likes of Herbie, Zawinul and Weather Report, and make a strong start to this debut with ‘Strings Of Light’, squaring the circle between those pioneers and the likes of post-drum'n'bass producer-players Squarepusher and Kaidi Tatham. The spring-loaded snare, sliding bass guitar, glowing keys and funky trumpet all combine well on an itchy, nervy high-tempo that ratchets up energy levels with a real sense of purpose. The rest of the material isn't as imaginative though, and while the analogue synthesisers and Rhodes are not displeasing, especially when they go into bubbling, gurgling, ‘liquid distortion’ mode, the set loses its compositional edge around the halfway mark. In fact, the songs become more like sketches, the makings of rather than the realisation of a full-length narrative. Which is problematic, because the initially promising ideas are spun beyond what feels like their natural lifecycle. Dayes and Williams have the clear potential to make a good album but this stands as a work in progress, one in which form and content do not yet quite match up.

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