Customer Reviews

Olesi: Fragments of an Earth

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is an unusual one.....basically Georgia Anne Muldrow, is a musician/producer/vocalist, that has a slightly-off centre approach to music. Considering her influences are as leftfield as: Sun Ra, Nina Simone, & Laura Nyro, her music has a distinctly creative and organically cerebral tone to it. Having made a EP ("Worthnothings"), that mixed trippy and decidedly unique sounding beat arrangements (not a 100 miles away from artists such as Madlib, Jay Dee), that took the beat-driven basis of instrumental Hip-Hop & the Groove and mood of R&B/Neo-Soul, and sung vaguely dream-like and otherwordly songs over it. It was initially enough to attract the attention of the `Stones Throw' label (who published the EP, and this her full length). And so what you ended up with this album is something that heralds a new unique voice, with an approach to song arrangements that is at times both freakishly eccentric, and movingly delicate.

If you took some of the more soulful/funk-driven instrumental Madlib/Jay Dee tracks, and stuck a vocalist that has a freeform almost floating and dreamlike singing style that shifts in tone and moods constantly, and sings about self-improvement, Political Statements, Social commentary on the state of America's people, Mortality, and even the Water in New Orleans. And this is delivered with an album that flatly refuses to pigeon-hole itself by taking an idea and beating it to death. Instead she takes the wild experimentation of jazz pioneers, the sensual mood of Soul finest, and the immediate head-bopping beats of Hip-Hop, and the technical proficiency of funk and modern creative Jazz. Which, thanks to her ability to express her art, without sacrificing content, to appear more accessible...one of this albums strongest points.

It's a sound that is frequently dizzying and spacey, yet focused and alluring enough to catch the attention to the listener. Georgia frequently spins metaphors and soothing lyrical phrases that like unlike anything currently out there. Is it Hip-Hop?, is it psychedelic Soul?, is it creative Urban music?.....in fact it all these things and at the same time, still something originally unique to her. Words bounce around experimental Hip-Hop beats, songs are layered over earthy R&B tones, and Georgia herself sings like a free spirit, over which shuffling funk, lo-fi experimental Hip-Hop, low-slung Soul....are all draped over Georgia's gorgeous multi-tracked vocals. The Albums as a whole is impressively diverse, and because Georgia is one of those rare breed, a singer and beat maker....she isn't limited to singing over someone else's instrumentals. And this gives her free reign to construct a slightly wonky album (in the best way possible), that veers all over the place, yet displays a raft of ideas and directions that stretches and expands upon the limits of the various genres that her music touches upon, mixing poems and free-form thinking, along with catchy pop hooks, which she wails and coos with sufficient verve. Channelling anger/ Sorrow / Angst / Reflection & Searching via a vaguely connected manner. I have to admit that I love this album...as it heralds an incredibly interesting talent, admittedly probably one that will unfortunately be relegated to the sidelines, as other far less interesting acts, gain acceptance. As Georgia's music is a little bit too-leftfield, and little too all over the map & far too unhinged to make a sizeable impact. She's more likely to be one of those wonderful artists you stumble across (even by accident), and wonder how something so original sounding is frequently passed over by the buying public, for what is one of 2006's best kept secrets.

This young lady is absolutely beautiful. I love her! The songs and message are right on time and now. She has a great ear for harmony. It's soulful, raw and ahead of its time. I wish her the best in her musical future. She performed and composed all the music ! Wonderful! I hope the mainstream r&b/soul/neo whatever audience steps away from the bling-bling and check this brilliant little masterpiece. Stones Throw is really putting forth some great for the ear.

Georgia Anne Muldrow is definitely on some next stuff. The question that each listener is going to have to answer for themselves is whether it makes her dope or takes her just a little too far out of their comfort level. She's not quite soul's equivalent to free jazz, but she's leaning in that direction.

Muldrow is easily one of the most talented women in music. She not only wrote and produced both this album and her debut Worthnothings EP, but she also recorded them herself. As such, she is a completely self-contained operation and it shows.

Her musical virtuosity means that there won't be a comfort level for most listeners on Olesi. Playing with time signatures, catchy off-kilter rhythms, and unorthodox vocal choices, are par for the course on this record. Just as you catch up to what she's got going on in one song and get the swing of it, the next will jar you into a different place.

Muldrow is just way too talented to make the kind of catchy straight-forward jams that you expect when hip-hop labels release other types of music. There's not a radio track to be found on Olesi and that says more about radio and mass tastes than it says about Muldrow.

Olesi is an album for bored ears. Muldrow is an artist for bored ears. What she does is probably above the heads of most listeners. But for those that get it, this album is a treat. Listen to it once and then listen a couple more times. If you still aren't feeling it, then listen until you are. Don't adjust your speakers, the problem is with you.

Georgia Anne Muldrow landed squarely on most people's radar thanks to her guest spots on the Platinum Pied Pipers album. Singing over the PPP's brand of Detroit funk, she showed a voice that seemingly had no inhibitions about hitting any note in any way it saw fit. Turns out that appearance was just a hint at the original voice it was introducing.

Muldrow writes, produces, records, and performs everything on this EP. She released it independently prior to getting signed to Stones Throw. This re-release is meant to promote her full-length album out later this year.

You know those tunes you can sing along with the first time you hear them? There aren't any of those on this record. Muldrow doesn't so much progress through notes, as pick and choose which ones she's going to hit when. Add to that the slightly off-kilter rhythms that predominate on Worthnothings and you have a challenging first listen.

"Larva" gives you an early clue that this is going to be something different. One of Worthnothings' most straightforward production efforts plays the back as Muldrow explores the vocal path-less-taken at every opportunity. The result is beautiful and invigorating and just slightly uncomfortable the first time through. Run the song back and it's really interesting. Hear it a third time and it's amazing.

Move further into the record and "Lo Mein" reaches the heights of incongruity. At no point in the song does the melody serve as anything more than a suggestion informing Muldrow's lyrical choices. She swings all around the simple backing track, never resting near the obvious notes for more than a measure. Oddly enough, the result is riveting. It's lightning in a bottle. It's the spirit of improvisation captured perfectly in one song.

This is a record for musicians, radio jocks, and industry vets. It's a record for ears jaded from hearing the same thing year after year. The same drums, the same chords, the same vocals. For those ears, Muldrow is an unexpected treat. For less tired ears, it might be too much the first time through. But give it another few runs so you don't miss what's going to have your favorite artist raving about Worthnothings.

Imagine John Coltrane, Nas, Bootsy Collins and Billy Holiday growing up in the same housing project and blending their talents together. That's as close as I can come to describing the talents of this sister. It's like a musical form of Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do, the way of no way. It's foundation is rooted in all styles and mastered then set free to be all things and at the same time like nothing ever seen before.

Just get the damn album.

What else can I say but wow, this young lady is the epitome of creativity, she gives meaning to the word Artist. Honestly, her style, her sound, her writing, its all on a higher level. Its pure brilliance, it gets no better than this. "Buy it now"

I love the beats on this album, and I love Georgia Anne Muldrow's voice. This is the album that I waited years for Erykah Badu to make, but thank God Georgia came through. I'm amazed that this artist is only 22. She is fearless, and I can't wait to see how she progressses.

My only complaint about Olesi: Fragments of an Earth, is that some songs are too short. Some tracks have that Pharoah Sanders/Alice Coltrane vibe, and I wish they could go on for at least 15 to 20 minutes. If this album were 2 hours long, then I would still play it back to back,

I came across Georgia Anne Muldrow by way of the new Visionaries album We Are The Ones (We've Been Waiting For), song titled Do Gooders, one of my favorite tracks. Then Oh No's new release Exodus into Unheard Rhythms, song titled T. Biggums, that hits hard from all sides. Then I heard her on a track on the Chrome Children album, a song titled Simply A Joy, which she wrote, arranged and produced, much respect! At that point I figured she was artist I would enjoy and support, so I purchased Olesi: Fragments of an Earth and I was not disappointed at all! She wrote and produced ever song on the album!

Georgia Anne Muldrow is an awesome songwriter/musician. She is totally creative with songs of love, upliftment and inspiration. She can flow nicely and her voice is very jazzy. Her choose of beats are very abstract with a J Dilla (aka Jay Dee) influence. Stones Throw has an awesome talent on their hands.

The tracks on Olesi: Fragments of an Earth take you on a nice journey through the mind of Georgia Anne Muldrow. I enjoy the entire CD non-stop but the song that stand out a little more would have to be the first track New Orleans, Melanin, Wrong Way, Lovelight, Radio WNK, Speakervision, Wheels, Birds, WEST COAST Recycler, Blackman, Blackman (Reprise), Leroy and Nowadayze. I like how there is NO bling bling, name brand dropping bull*hit in her music. It's about life and growing to be a better person with nice melodies to groove and chill out to! Support and enjoy creativity at its best from Georgia Anne Muldrow!

I really like Georgia Ann Muldrow's voice. I first heard her on Erykah Badu's song Master Teachers on the New Amerykah cd. I guess I shouldn't have been suprised that Olesi is a strange cd. It seems to be composed of almost mini-songs or song snippets. My husband jokes that it's music for people with ADD. In any event, this young woman clearly has a vision and produces her music and it's worth checking out.

I've been staring at the cursor for about 5 minutes in trying to gather the words for this review. This is simply the kind of record that people will have to discover in their own time & space. I have all of GAM's solo releases and none are quite as special as this one. Even though songs from this release have play counts upwards of 70 or so in my music player, I'm still moved enough to come here and share my thoughts. GAM is a teacher with a universal message of love & life. Those of African heritage will hear many more messages in this record... most notably, a call to organize & unite. I have so many favorites on this album! Well over a year has passed and I'm still hearing new things! If you listen to a clip and pick up even the slightest vibe, this album is speaking to you. Buy it and spend time with it like you would a Songs in the Key of Life or a Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow. You will not regret it.