ART of S.U.N. by S.U.N.

       Step into the light yall. The Art of S.U.N. is a defiant ray of soulshine burning off the clueless fog of commodified rap. This is Hip Hop that matters. With a rough yet refined flow, elegantly tough production, brutal honesty, social conscience, and strong willed love, this is a definite milestone in keeping Hip Hop positively vital.

       SUN’s rhythmic flow is tighter than Al Sharpton and his Bible. Verbal gymnastics team up with deadly knowledge for a loud ass knock on the closed doors of the sleeping mind. SUN’s street polished style brings to mind MC’s like Guru that know revolution is a state of being. On “Let it all out” SUN raps “feedom is simple, you find it in the mental, we all got potential but you gotta know your temple”. A colonized mind/body can’t change shit, and throwing off those shackles is the first step towards freedom. SUN has a tight grip on this fact and this album proves it. The tracks here reveal a wisdom that could only come from someone unafraid to face the painful realities of Life and rise above it all.

       Not content to ride trends, S.U.N. is an uncompromising artist whose throwin’ down a gauntlet of knowledge. Too many hack MC’s can’t find a needle of a clue in the haystack of their ego. They tread the safe predictable grounds of the empty boast and a hostile pose. SUN on the other hand blazes trails in directions few others dare to tread. Again and again the listener is asked to see things from a new angle. On Black economics the vital question”where you spend yo money at?” is powerfully directed at anyone who has not been thinking about it. The cut “Give me understanding” is a powerful meditation on the suffering of materialism and the riches of the spirit. With “lyrics like a shamen” it is clear this man is out to do a lot more than merely entertain. SUN understands well that music can be a weapon and medicine roled into one. Not much is spared from the bombs of knowledge dropped on this album as ignorant assumptions, economic injustice, government corruption, and the chumped up motives of sucka MC’s all get some wicked S.U.N. burn. The Art of S.U.N. gracefully tackles a range of topics wider than Fat Albert. This brotha has some open eyes and the music here is on some straight up view master shit. If Chuck D was right that Hip Hop is the Black CNN, then SUN is straight gunnin’ for the top anchor position.

       The production on the Art of S.U.N. is the perfect complement to his dead set delivery. Its is simultaneously stripped down and dressed up, raw and refined. Sparse thumpin’ beats are layered with creative instrumentation and thought provoking samples. Strings, female vocals, piano, and a cast of cohorts add to the fullness of the sound. The production style is solid though not revolutionary. While the music works perfectly as a framework for SUN’s lyrical gifts, it is definitly not upbeat party music. This is a serious album for serious times. The dark tone and down tempo flow reflect the stark realities of Urban America. That being said it is still one of the most empowering and uplifting Hip Hop albums in a long while. You can tell SUN has worked long and hard to to put Love and positivity into his craft.

       The experience and Soul of a Real Hip Hop artist shines through the force of their voice. You can hear if they’re speaking from their own heart or thinking someone else’s pre-programmed thoughts. It takes a lot of Soul searching to be able to drop wisdom like this. This is liberated music from a liberated mind. Like his chosen name, SUN is a powerful source of light in the darkness of modern America. He is not some fluffy entertainer or half baked punk MC. SUN has a message and a mission. Like a modern day Griot, he is keeping the Tribe in the know. This is a man on the move and he’s not gonna’ stop. If you have yet to see the SUN, it might be a good time to go and catch some rays.

“Hell On High Heels” by Venitia Sekema

 

On her 2nd CD “Hell On High Heels”, talented singer-songwriter Venitia Sekema delivers a solid batch of well-crafted tunes that cover a wide range of moods and emotions. Her style melds elements of folk and blues with a straightforward approach to songwriting that serves her well. Venitia has a mature voice that effortlessly floats atop simple and deceptively stripped down song arrangements. A variety of talented guest artists appear adding to the depth and richness of the music without cluttering it. Indeed the emphasis on this CD is right where it should be-on the refined voice, solid guitar playing, and eclectic songwriting of Venitia.

“Hell on High Heels” covers a wide range of lyrical subjects. “Now is the time” explores the need to live more compassionately, while “Seems like Monday morning all the time” covers the hectic pace of modern life. While there are a few lighthearted songs here that lacked emotional impact, Venitia makes up for it when wrestling with affairs of the heart. “The Same” is a powerful and stark tale of a failed relationship while “Oregon” outlines the sense of peaceful possibility one can find from serious post relationship soul searching. “Circle” is another such success that explores the strange gravitational pull exerted in especially soulful relationships. Venitia has a lot to talk about and her range as a songwriter is obvious on this disc. Like the artist who created it, This CD is

A subtly complex album with a diverse range of emotional layers that becomes more apparent and enjoyable with each listening.

“Hell On High Heels” is a very listenable CD from a rapidly evolving singer- songwriter. While it is not especially adventurous or creatively conceived music, it is an honest and successful effort to artfully explore the emotional roads we all walk. If you enjoy the sound of a good guitar accompanying a beautiful voice with a lot to talk about, you will probably enjoy the music of Venitia Sekema.

 

http://www.venitiasekema.com/

 

“Somersaults Inside Ourselves” by Squirm

 

Seldom is music so lifelike as in this long awaited release from local sound alchemists Squirm. More an organic ecosystem of sound than a familiarized format of music, this is creatively produced music for adventurous listeners. Squirm’s music transcends the confines of predictable genres and traditional ambient music and blooms into a unique catalyst of musical consciousness. This is music as interpretive art, at once both thought provokingly innovative and sonically meditative. Somersaults Inside Ourselves succeeds in the difficult musical task of leaving the listener feeling both grounded and liberated at the same time.

There is a child like sense of freedom and curiosity that pervades this music. Squirm’s playful approach to music is enhanced by the group’s exceptional chemistry and talented musicianship. Core members Kahlil Smylie, Brandon Nelson, Brett Padgett, Thomas Klepach, and Elizabeth Biddlecome are musicians who listen to each other with a symbiotic ear.  They lovingly build subtle events into epic dimensions, creating a gently swirling vortex of sonic textures that includes everything from chimes, flute, melodica, cello, bells, tuba, melodic bass and the beautiful sounds of nature itself. Deftly syncopated rhythms punctuate these clouds of sound as expansive musical themes hint at places never seen. There is no wonder that this group has been chosen to perform live soundtracks for films at the Vickers Theater in Three Oaks.

Comparing such strikingly original music to existing works is tricky. Imagine Michael Brook jamming with a Gamelan orchestra and an angelic junkyard band being conducted by Salvador Dali. If Brian Eno was producing, Teo Macero editing, and King Tubby mixing it might sound vaguely similar to this. While such innovative and unique music may not be enjoyed by those with a colonized ear, open minded listeners who allow music to speak for itself are likely to find a whole new sonic Universe waiting for them on this masterful album.

 

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“Lonesome Gone” by the Goldmine Pickers

 

On their latest CD “Lonesome Gone”, Goldmine pickers deliver an excellent collection of acoustic roots music that effortlessly intertwines bluegrass, folk, and Irish music traditions into a fun and tight sound that is uniquely their own. Playful mandolin, freewheeling fiddle, earthy upright bass, driving guitar, and beautiful banjo picking all shine on this disc. Topping off the rich musical blend are polished harmonies and soulful lead vocals that are balanced just right with the music. The music and vocals never step on each other’s toes, but instead elevate and add dimension to each other. There is a wide and dynamic range of tunes on this disc and the band can shift musical gears effortlessly. Songs like “the Split” show off their remarkably tight musicianship while tracks like “Mud” showcase their catchy songwriting. There is everything from laid back instrumentals like “Sean’s Favorite” to up tempo barn burners like “Don’t leave me here tonight” here. All the tunes grow on you with repeated listening and overall these are remarkably cohesive and well crafted songs.

Goldmine Pickers have shared the stage with contemporaries such as Hot Buttered Rum, Yonder Mountain String Band, and the David Grisman Quintet and like these peers they are forging a new trail in roots music that both honors the spirit of old time music while bringing fresh and innovative ideas to the genre. This is a perfect CD for a drive in the country, a Sunday afternoon, a midsummer barn dance, or a backwoods fishing trip. If you liked the popular “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” soundtrack you will probably like this CD. In a world with so much half-baked music, it is nice to hear this gourmet recipe made of choice ingredients, lovingly prepared, and simmered just right. This is real music made by incredibly tight musicians whose approach to music is timeless. They write good songs, play them with incredible musicianship, and put lots of heart and soul into their craft.

 

http://www.goldminepickers.com/music/