REVIEW: KHRUANGBIN & LEON BRIDGES - TEXAS MOON EP

4/5

Four For Texas.

After the sun comes the moon. Texan themes have run rampant through the state of entertainment this weekend. Like Netflix's sequel to the Hollywood horror classic 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', which will either be a chain cut above the rest, or a buzzsaw buzzkill. And now this. Texas' finest Leon Bridges isn't just the most underrated, modern Marvin of our generation (have him 'Coming Home' to the era of the sound of his classic debut and he'd be the biggest star in the world), he's also one of the hardest working like a Norah Jones. Following his subtle, but stirring 'Sweeter' protest anthem with the horns of Terrace Martin for Trayvon Martin and all the Black Lives that will always Matter with last year's 'Gold-Diggers Sound', riding on the back of his 'Motorbike'. Yet from seventies sophomore funk (2018's 'Good Thing') and dancing 'Across The Room' with ODESZA, to epic covers of Ginuwine's 'Pony' ride, Leon, bridging the gap, has always been about his Lone State. From Austin City Limits performances down the 'River', to El Paso  featuring in his beautiful 'Beyond' love story, music video, breaking into coaxing dance after laughing over lunch. And now with another album and collaboration, he reunites with Texan three-piece Khruangbin the after their 'Texas Sun' for the sequel 'Texas Moon'. Getting their double-up cross-country album on like a Travelling Wilbury, Dylan, Petty, Lynne or Orbison supergroup. This moon glowing in opening like an atmospheric 'Trouble Man' soundtrack. But never coming apart. 

Wrangler woven together like denim jean. Worked like Carhartt. Khruangbin, from Houston, are a holy trinity of psychedelic and instrumental rock, taking the roots of this record on a road it's never been on before. All neon highways and skies. The trio of Laura Lee, Mark Speer and Donald Ray Johnson Jr., otherwise known as DJ have worked with everyone from Jay Electronica to Paul McCartney. From the time the universe smiled upon them like Luk thung 1960's Thai music, they've blended global music like Prince did genres. Their sophomore set 'Con Todo el Mundo', mixing Spanish and Middle Eastern influences. And now following 2020's 'Mordechai', they're doubling-up on their Texas state with Fort Worth's own. 'Doris' begins this day like the slow crawl of a detective story, or Childish Gambino awakening Donald Glover's love. "Don't close your heavy/Don't close your heavy eyes, Doris (Doris)/You have so much/So much to leave behind/If you travel to the other side, Doris (Doris)/I'll be right here holding your hand/You taught me how to be a real man/I'll be right here holding your hand/You taught me how to be a real man (Ooh)/Yes, you did/Yes, you did (Ooh)/Yes, you did", Leon sings to his "New Orleans Queen" like Hathaway. Even if we are almost already halfway into this extended play with the single 'B-Side' and its video walking through the smoke like a blaxploitation flick, this cut and EP belongs on the top shelf of both artists' deluxe and definitive discography. 

Flipping it over and dropping the wax back on the needle with lyrics like, "Deeply miss your love/When I’m far away/In another place, all that I dream of/My chest is your pillow/Waitin’ for your love/You in all the ways/In another place, all I’m thinkin’ of/Just can’t get enough." These are they type of joints from yesteryear, brought back today, blazing with a burning heart. Then flowing like a cocoa fondue fountain 'Chocolate Hills' rolls with sweet seduction. Bridges broodingly taking us across that threshold, soothingly singing, "Ooh, you spend your time runnin’ through your fields/The way we play in your chocolate hills/Please stay forever, just stay forever/It feel like heaven, when I’m kissin’ on your rose/Kissin’ on your rose, kissin’ on your rose-colored lips." But dear Lord it gets real holy, holy on 'Father, Father'. A sublime slow burner on this road full of those roadside motels you find along the 'River'. "Father, Father, look at these worsts that I done/I present them to you with hopes of gettin’ your attention (Gettin’ your attention)/Father, Father, look at the mess that I made/Just a man with unclean hands, from you, I hide my faith (I hide my faith)/Father, Father, these truths cuttin’ through like blades/Just a man with unclean hands, from you, I hide my faith," presenting the back and forth conversation between man and God like two hands together. The power and the glory. The best comes last though with the mesmerising, magnificent 'Mariella' over those guitar strings that stretch all the way down the lane, as far as the horizon can see. Illuminating like street and headlights heading towards the heart. "Hair pitch black like the midnight sky/Eyes like the jungle, you’re something wild/Her sweet melody sings wherever l go/Running through my mind, sitting in this road/Maybe I’Il/Write a letter from this little old country town/Down in Texas/I’lI keep it here for you." It's one of those devotions from a back pocket that you want to fold up as carefully as possible and wear always like a locket as you take it with you. This day in Texas between Khruangbin and Leon Bridges has been something else. So much so we wish there was another break of day. Because from dusk, 'till dawn, sunrise to sunset, this is the pairs best work yet. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'Doris', 'B-Side', 'Mariella'. 

REVIEW: MARY J. BLIGE - GOOD MORNING GORGEOUS

3.5/5

Drop Dead Gorgeous. 

Wake up, wake up, wake up, gorgeous! The Queen of R&B is back with all her power. Ready to retake the throne like King James. Just watch! It's been a minute too. 2017 to be exact from this 'Strength Of A Woman'. And man it's a hot one, smooth like Santana. For a GOAT's greatest in years like 'The London Sessions' with the best of the Big Smoke and the time she gave us a second look at 'My Life' like a classic as 'The Journey Continues'. Now her first in five, 'Good Morning Gorgeous' is set like an alarm clock to wake you up from 2022's January reverie. But what's the 411? Where's Blige been whilst the world was in a Mary J haze? She's been making movies and Netflix shows too like 'The Umbrella Academy'. You can't stop the Queen's reign for that crown. Hold up your parasols. Even if the actual Academy turned their back on the 'Mudbound' stars nomination like that indelible moment in the movie were she does the same to Eazy-E of 'Straight Outta Compton', the incomparable Jason Mitchell. She deserved more 'Respect' like 'Dreamgirl' Jennifer Hudson does for her beautiful biopic on the original Queen of soul, Aretha Franklin. A movie in which Mary plays another iconic legend in Dinah Washington. 'This Bitter Earth'. Have respect like that glass shattering scene of anger. Because J. Blige is back to claim hers. Album number fourteen with almost that many tracks comes just days before Mary J. Blige will make history with Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (who has just made his own by pulling the switch and buying Death Row Records. Take that, Suge!) performing at the halftime show of Superbowl LVI. Set to give Springsteen, Prince and ladies and gentlemen, The Weeknd a run of their cheers and people out their seats. TOUCHDOWN! 

Bigger gold hoops than 'Bron on a cover that could be a Chanel commercial, Blige brings this all in perfect time on the slow groove burn of an outstanding opener for the record. Offering wise words of sage advice from her sounds. "Don't chase the money, be humble/And let it find you," she tells those who have 'No Idea' on everything. If you don't know, now you know. But it's the singles that really send her back to the stratosphere, as the DJ Khaled spun 'Amazing' is truly that on an album of classic collaborations with Mary proving she's back like that. That being "another one", as sure thing as a catchphrase from the talents of South Beach. Sampling Dawn Penn's 'You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)' that has been interpolated more times than the greatest of Marvin (we like what Ghostface did with it on his 'Hidden Darts') and singing, "It's so hard to fake when everything I do is real/Money and a doggie bag, I ain't missin' no meal." This flosses as hard as the fur and lambos video set to Miami art deco pastel palettes. Still it's the second single 'Rent Money' with Dave East pitching in his half that really pays the bills. One of the best in show Mary muses, "I just want back what I came with/Ain’t no sense throwing no shadе/Pointing a finger and blaming/Undo the rest/Soon as we kiss/Wasn’t no even exchange/You treat everyone like they are famous/Every girl like she’s the main chick, amazing", between Vegas slots. Pay attention to the sin. This is no jackpot at your last chance saloon. If you owe some money to the one you used to call honey, it ain't wrote off with a break up. Even if you steal away like J and Pharrell, it's not 'No More Drama'. It's daylight robbery. 

Title tracks don't come much bigger or better than 'Good Morning Gorgeous'' lead single with H.E.R. and the mesmerizing moments of malaise that precursor all this like a prelude to a kiss. But this lament isn't something cooed to someone she wakes up to, but mantra made for herself. Singing, "Hard enough to be alone/I'm just tryna to move along/Sometimes I do and then I don't/You tell me what I'm doing wrong/Tell myself that it ain't healthy/Second guessing, it don't help me/I'm so tired of feeling empty/Dry my eyes, it's time to fight/It seems like I'm always against me/Seems like this is never ending." Whispering herself the affirmation of this albums same name early rise. It's all Mary, Mary, taking off the shackles from this 'Love and Life'. Blige has blown it out with Method Man over Marvin, Sting (and we know how much his back catalogue is worth), George Michael and even Bono of U2, besting his 'One'. But it's her duet with one half of album of last year Silk Sonic, Anderson. Paak ('Here With Me') that will really tide you over this evening. Paak produces the opening track and this one also bookends 'Love Would Never', the true meaning of the word in a world whose declarations are gone in the wind of the age of independence. Still, this leading lady who needs no one sharing her top billing still stands on her own two. So what the f### you gonna do? Cool and Dre 'Come See About Me', before Fivio Foreign needs no translation 'On Top' of the world. But it's 'Love Without The Heartbreak' that really reaonates. "If I can pick the best parts of love, I would do it like this/I would start at the part where we made love/All the flowers and cards just to make up/If I can pick the best parts of love, I'd do without this/I would take the part when you changed up/I would take out the part when you gave up." If only it was still like this. This thing we call 'Falling In Love'. Most of us have just had 'Enough' like this bruising ballad. In the end, showing us the door, Usher comes through like a confessional to 'Need Love' on a classic collaboration. This is like when Raymond called Alicia Keys 'My Boo'. Putting it down, simple and plain, "I just want someone to hold me close briefly/I need someone who knows I'm not the one to be controled/I may not stay, I may not go/Warning you now, don't get too close." Yeeeah man. When Mary J was crafting classics, Usher was just a kid warning us like B.I.G. to "stop scheming and looking hard." Years before his graduation and a '2001' sample from the good Doctor. But look at them both now. Still here. Like in this game, on the throne. The place Mary J will always stay. From Uptown with Diddy to the crown. Hello. Good morning. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'Here With Me (Feat. Anderson. Paak)', 'Rent Money (Feat. Dave East)', 'Need Love (Feat. Usher)'.