Voodoo - review

Isn't it strange, for all us people over our 20's, that the year 2000 was hyped up as such an important event for so much of our lives, and yet, it's come and gone so quickly? It seems like an abstract number now, but it's hard to beileve that over 4 years have passed since then. It's hard to believe that D'Angelo made this album then too, there's something equally abstract about this record, it's got just as much soul as an old Marvin record, but there's something strangely modern about it. I say strangely because the whole album is funk/jam/soul of the oldest old-school variety.

It's not a stunning album, when I first bought it, I didn't love it. In fact, after a few days, I returned it. I could say, "to my eternal shame, I returned it" but that's not neccessary, because there was a feeling of regret as I returned it, I knew it was quality, I didn't know why I was returning it, but it just didn't do what I wanted it to. That feeling that there was something special about it stayed with me though, until I finally heard it again in late 2003. Time had matured my ears, and I was now ready for this album. I could now sit through that still funk of 'Playa Playa' and appreciate a groove, a feeling that's simply pushed along for 5 minutes. I could feel it in my veins. That's one half of what this album is all about, the groove, the vibe, the feel, evident in such songs as the previously mentioned 'Playa Playa', 'The Line', 'Chicken Grease', 'The Root' and 'Spanish joint'. It's all there, a still, calm/funky few lines of music, brought to life by this powerful, overdubbed voice, both high as high and low as a masculine soul, that's the D'Angelo sound.

The other musical side represented in Voodoo is the pure song-writing, structured, impressive and emotional pieces of pop-music like 'Send it on', 'Untitled (how does it feel?)' and the equally tender 'Africa'. These are the obvious ones that just leave you taken away, speechless, the joints that bring you all the way in, right inside the feeling, as well as leaving you all the way outside, looking in from the window at the talented musicians, you're totally awestruck and filled with the joy they give you.

Aswell as this, it's about the lyrics, which I'll admit, because of the mans addictively enjoyable lazy Virginia drawl, are not always so easy to make out (meaning you should go to yahoo/google and type in 'D'angelo Lyrics ____ insert song name) Once you do you'll get the full picture, for example on the brilliantly titled 'The Root' you get a feel for his connection with the organic elements of mother nature, something that's also very well put across in the earthy, organic music,

"Like the rain to the dirt, from the vine to the wine.
From the alpha to creation, to the end of time."

It's that connection with the music, voice and lyrics that make this such a cohesive album. They said it was pieced together from several jam sessions in the studio, and you really can feel that live vibe to it, the only difference is, they haven't tried to make it 'consciously live', everything is mixed perfectly, everything sounds crisp, there are no moments of talking/chit-chat between songs. That 'live vibe' about the sound is purely in the spirit of the music, it flows and is generally very freeing, there are no moments where he's rushed into singing a chorus or a hook at a certain time. Whenever the need arises, he'll sit in the background and let the drummer man (?uestlove of The Roots) just ride out the beat with the bass player and a few fine guitar licks. Nothing is forced. I could go on about how most so-called soul music IS forced, how most artists ARE predictable and rushed on their tracks, but that's got nothing to do with this LP, this album is on another level to all that other mess that's out there.

I could write pages and pages about the three masterpieces of this album, but I don't want to try too hard to put into words something that words could never tell. 'Send it on', 'Untitled (how does it feel)', and 'Africa'. Together they represent everything that's great about this album, whilst also standing up as classics in their own right. With regards to 'Send it on' it's just pure flowing soul, that ties in with that groove I mentioned earlier that typifies much of the albums sound, even at the end of the song the man is introducing new vocal sections and harmonies- making the song even more delicious. It drips with romantic soul directly from the 60's, the rhythm is pure genius. 'Untitled (how does it feel)' is the one that most will love, it was the single (with the nasty video) and is quite possibly one of the greatest popular soul songs of all time, it's personal, and you get the feeling the mans talking directly to you. Just like with 'Send it on' I don't feel the lyrics are that important with regards to enjoying it, hence the (Untitled) title, in fact to me it almost seems like 'How does it feel' was just some words he came up with whilst humming the amazing melody he created, everything fits into place so well. This classic song is all about the climax, so keep listening and let the power build.

It's only right that I give the closing paragraph to the song that matters most, 'Africa'. I've heard many songs with such grand titles before, and they've rarely been as special as their titles suggest. This is. It's the most beautiful thing on this album, not only because of the lullaby-beautified crystal beat, strong upright bass, and crisp snare drum, but the way in which D'Angelo himself sings with those sounds, mixing his voice and the music so perfectly on that unforgettable chorus. It goes something like this,

"hmmmmmm, whoa whoa whoaa... whoa whoa whooaa...hmmm."

And it makes perfect sense. Unlike the other two classic though, this one is just as much about the lyrics as the music, empowering a continent, or perhaps two (the black people in North-America and Africa itself) with it's beautiful poetry. To any human of African descent on this planet who's not being the greatest person they can be, this song is surely a reminder. It seems to say, "this is the level you can reach, follow me." It is magic, that's the best way to describe this song, magic. And for someone like me, just as I said before, it leaves me looking in somewhat from the outside on this near-heavenly music with happiness and amazement.

"Africa is my descent
and here I am far from home
I dwell within a land that is meant
for many men not my tone

The blood of God is my defense
let it drop down to my seed
showers to your innocense
to protect u for all eternity
and with this wood I beat this drum
and we wont see defeat

From kings to queens becomes a prince
knowledge wisdom is
understanding what we need"

Y.Misdaq, 03 Jun 2004

-click here to read a brilliant interview with D'Angelo, it's conducted by ?uestlove of The Roots, who also produced 'Voodoo', and is a good friend of D'Angelo's- so it may get a little confusing at times- but stick with it, it's interesting, D'Angelo is represented by the lighter shade of YELLOW