Title for the EP is “Table For Two” is a 22 minute 7 track EP
of duets with an array of female talent, Yebba, Tiana Major9, Mahalia, Ari
Lennox, Queen Naija and my persona fave Joyce Wrice.
The EP opens with the intro “Ego Trip,” the track plays as an online interactive experience that could be a play on online dating and communication, in a lockdown UK and an era where online dating and online dates are a massive part of current society the track just seems so apt.
We move on to “How Much Can a Heart Take” which features Grammy-award winner Yebba, where they both explore the point in a relationship where you have a change of heart. The production is on point and the chemistry in the track is fantastic you can feel the turmoil in the way they weigh up their relationship.
“On Read,” which features Tiana Major9
who I’m not a massive fan of, is about a subject that is strange but real text etiquette.
We’ve all had that moment when we send a message / text and we can see it has
been “Read” and you have to patiently or impatiently wait for that response.
The trying time of wondering what that other party is thinking, now I’m not a massive
fan of this track but I do feel they deal with the subject matter really well.
“It’s s shame tryna force something good that would not be good, be good
The lyric “It’s s shame tryna force something good that would not be good, be good” sings Lucky and the uber talented Mahalia on the mellow “My Window” I think this Lucky venturing to a sound so prominent UK R&B scene, and he does a really good job. Now in true Influenced fashion we have to talk samples and in this production we have a great one in 1973 track by Ann Peebles’ “I Can’t Stand the Rain”. A sample we have seen championed by Missy’s 1997 “The Rain”, Talib Kweli on “Memories Live” for the classic album “Reflection Eternal” and recently by the very talented rapper Mick Jenkins in his 2014 track “Rain”.
“Access Denied” has a real groove to it, the bongos running through the track give it a real indigenous feel like a Latin or Afro jazz track or almost even calypso. The groove comes from one of the greatest soundtracks ever 1972 Curtis Mayfield’s SuperFly a track titled “Give Me Your Love (Love Song).” Without the guitar rifts and strings from the original it really changes the structure of the track from a classic 1970’s babymaker to and a bouncy emotional duet.
Queen Naija lends her sweet vocals on
the warm “Dreams,” but for me this a track I can imagine will do well for the
US market but for me it is a skipper.
“Nobody comes before you/There’s no way that you need more/If I’m willing to give you all of me"
“Nobody comes before
you/There’s no way that you need more/If I’m willing to give you all of me”
proclaims the New Orleans-born singer on the bouncy ending track “Falling In
Love” featuring a young female vocalist who I see as a bit of a throwback
vocalist in, Joyce Wrice. That being said the 90s R&B vibe of this song really
suits Wrice and it’s a great way to finish the EP.
The EP is full of
charm and talent and comes from an artist in his 30’s where you can feel his
life experiences especially in the field of relationships. All in all, one
track to skip and 6 to enjoy I have this down as a must to listen to.
8/10
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