Read on Twitter
Voodoo turns 21 today
An album that delves into the past, personal reflection, love, healing, hope, and set a precedent for a new millennium
A little thread below, nothing overly concise, just loose thoughts on an album I love
An album that delves into the past, personal reflection, love, healing, hope, and set a precedent for a new millennium
A little thread below, nothing overly concise, just loose thoughts on an album I love
Coming off the strength of Brown Sugar, DâAngelo fell into writers block, it wasnât until 1998 that there would be any update on new material , after the birth of his first child, where he would begin writing what would soon become Voodoo
Regarding inspiration, heâs never shied away from citing his influences , the soul/ funk greats of the past. You can hear it in the music as well, oozing through the grooves, the bass, the drums. DâAngelo viewed music as an opportunity for growth & spiritual fulfillment
With 13 tracks sprawling for over 79 minutes, Voodoo dives into deep spiritual release, manifesting in a plethora of ways, from the cavernous bass of one moâgin, or the healing drums on Africa, sampled from one of his influences- Prince, it takes many shapes & forms
The fluid nature of the album comes from its recording process, which was free flowing and loose. The jam session feel is further accentuated by the sessions being recorded in seemingly one take, almost completely uncut
The production itself was arranged by a stellar cast, consisting of Questlove (the roots), Roy Hargrove, Pino Palladino,Raphael Saadiq, Russel Elevado,Q tip, DJ Premier, & DâAngelo himself. J Dilla had a hand in it as well, albeit it being uncredited,
The result of such a cast is 13 murky, yet eloquent tracks, meticulously arranged, each one building off the other. From the slow burn of Playa Playa, hip hop textures of Devils pie, liveliness of left & right, meditative soul of âthe lineâ, and the smooth calm of send it on
The latter portion is where the Virtuoso comes to light. Chicken grease, the Root, Spanish joint & Medley all house the albums more unconventional structures, feel like making love is cover from soul legend Roberta Flack, and âone moâginâ has one of the hardest baselines ever
And all the buildup leads to the centerpiece of Voodoo; Untitled (How does it Feel), an electric, change of pace Prince tribute, starting from a slow burn and unfolds into a complete eruption, and itâs beautiful every step of the way
Africa as the closer is stellar, with soft keys and Prince sampled drums creating an air of harmony, while DâAngelo ruminates over home, both physical and metaphorical, culture, and legacy. It leaves the album on a positive note, full of closure
Upon release, it was an immediate commercial success, selling over 300k first week, taking home numerous awards as well
It catapulted DâAngelo to another stratosphere, solidifying all the promising genius heâd shown on Brown Sugar five years prior
It catapulted DâAngelo to another stratosphere, solidifying all the promising genius heâd shown on Brown Sugar five years prior
An amalgam of rnb, soul, funk,hip hop, blues all fused together into a cohesive project that doesnât waste a single second, one that looks to the past, recognizing its predecessors, but also moves forward by being a spiritual successor to it
Voodoo, a true masterpiece
Voodoo, a true masterpiece
