The Pop Corporation

A lot of Neo Soul revivalism misses that freewheeling, experimentalism of the stuff they love, focusing more on jazzy chords and mid-tempo realism – however, what makes great Neo Soul is a certain psychedelic attitude which means albums are not straightforward affairs.

Be it the fuzzy guitars and electric guitars lifted from psychedelic ’70s soul music, freeform jazz, spoken word interludes, free-association lyrics, wonky drum patterns, or long jams, the stranger (and sometimes frustrating) elements of Neo Soul are too often M.I.A. with anyone influenced by the likes of Erykah, D’Angelo, Jill Scott et al.

But along come GENA – an experimental outfit based around Liv.e and Karriem Riggins, and the feeling of cosmically improvisational music is strong in this one.

Here, we find come-ons, showboating, gonzo funk, dreamy harmonies, lo-fi production and a whole lot of confidence.

On a track like ‘Circlesz’, you hear the album at its fullest and most focused. A glittery gem that’s off-kilter, possessing incredible swagger and the whole thing is super soulful. On ‘Douwannabwitastar!?’, all the above but slowed down and slow-burning.

Throughout the album, assured on the mic and Riggins providing the kind of rhythms that bring to mind hip hop like J Dilla and Madlib, which is of course, no mean feat.

This album is by no means avant garde, but it’s certainly strange enough to make someone looking for something on the pop end of the scale wrinkle their noses – but with that, what they’ll lose in those people, they’ll invariably gain in the kind of rap fans who don’t normally listen to too much R&B.

It’s not re-writing the rules of music (and not trying to, obviously) as it has a solid foundation which allows for the improv and humour to bob and weave through each of the grooves. It’s all about the vibe of the tracks, rather than solid pop hooks, and that’s no bad thing. It’ll absolutely grab your attention and ask questions of you without melting your brain, and is well worth investing some time into it.

This is a stupidly talented duo and this album makes that undeniable, but it isn’t a po-faced exercise in cleverness. When you singalong to “I’m thinkin’ bout giving you the blues right now, I’m thinkin’ bout giving you a bruise right now,” it’s hard to argue they’re taking themselves too seriously, like some jazzy R&B can fall foul of.

If you’ve been wanting more music that reminds you of the brilliant Georgia Anne Muldrow, then GENA is going to tick a lot of your boxes. It’s a jam, it’s analogue warm, it’s luxurious, and has impeccable taste.

If this sounds like your kinda thing, you need to make a bee-line for this record as soon as you can.