Carolyn Malachi is what I like to call a musical busy bee, constantly working on intertwining rhythm and sound until it is perfect. On her first two efforts she was able to calm the noise with her soulful freshman and sophomore albums, Revenge of the Smart Chicks and Revenge of the Smart Chicks II: Ambitious Gods, but on her Lions, Fires, & Squares EP (LFS) something different happens. For the moment the incense is blown out and the bass is turned up….ladies and gentlemen Malachi wants to party!
No surprise to fans, Malachi continues to be ambitious with her music. The fusion of
jazz and hip-hop is her signature sound. However, this time around the "District Lioness" roars with a pop sound sprinkled with soul.
Comprised of six tracks of originals and remixes, one of LFS’s highlights is "Textual" featuring South African hip-hop artist HHP. This playful party ode to non-verbal communication in the 21st century. In a telephone voice-effect, Malachi keeps it simple for loquacious men: she is press for time, so a text message will suffice champ.
Very rarely do I hear independent artists with commercial appeal and innovation but
Textual pulls it off. It's fun, club-friendly and details teenagers favorite past time. Hopefully, radio stations will pay attention.
And of course the dynamics of love is still on her mind as heard on "Orion". This track provides that easy listening that we all have grown accustom to hearing from Malachi. With a sexy and monotone flow reminiscent of Bahamadia, she takes a break from crooning and raps a verse on the bridge:
The weaknesses I carry when we shoulder to shoulder/ Strolling kosher/Love is a favored complexion-olive/A tan green I guess I’m easy to pass over/An easy rewrite/A salty evite
The "Orion Way Left Remix" by Kokayi is good with it's electro fast pace beat, but I'm partial to the original. Easily Lions, Fires, & Squares is the soundtrack for summer nights. The only truly upsetting moment about this EP is that it ends so early, but it's definitely a good prelude of what’s to come.
THE OFFICIALLY RELEASE AVAILABLE ON ITUNES JULY 30TH.
HEAR A FEW TRACKS OF THE EP NOW ON www.myspace.com/ms.malachi
-Bobby Marvin
of HueVoices.com
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