{"id":4377,"date":"2022-03-03T19:38:35","date_gmt":"2022-03-03T19:38:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/?p=4377"},"modified":"2022-03-03T19:38:38","modified_gmt":"2022-03-03T19:38:38","slug":"album-review-motherland-journey-blue-lab-beats-words-del-osei-owusu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/2022\/03\/03\/album-review-motherland-journey-blue-lab-beats-words-del-osei-owusu\/","title":{"rendered":"Album Review: &#8220;Motherland Journey&#8221; Blue Lab Beats. Words: Del Osei-Owusu"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-spotify wp-block-embed-spotify wp-embed-aspect-21-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Spotify Embed: Motherland Journey\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"380\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/1Ot6KlRfnV6vGwcQPpr6eg?si=QvZKstbkSXeY8xdkKCkq0w&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<p><b>Blue Lab Beats &#8211; Motherland Journey<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Sky Reflections<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The first track on this opens with with an instrumental, you could just imagine this as a concert entry music\u2026 The way that this starts off is uplifting, and I love it. I love the the synth chords start out, and I really need to find out where NKOK gets his Maschine Kits from because that\u2019s the secret sauce right there\u2026. This sets the tone for the album, a bit of jazz in there with an afro beat bass line\u2026. What a treat to the ears\u2026<\/p>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li>Labels (Feat. Tiana Major9 &amp; Kofi Stone)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Tiana and Kofi are the first of the collaborations on the album, and they bring the smooth flavours to this. The groove has a bounce to it, and Kofi\u2019s London drawl combined with Tiana\u2019s beautiful vocals really bring this to life. The piano and strings combination\u2026.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Beautiful! The beat just\u2026 bounces!<\/p>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li>I\u2019ll Be There For You (Feat. Teni Tenks)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This gives me a late 90s vibe. Again with the smoothness\u2026 Then a saxophone comes wandering in, ushering in a trumpet solo\u2026<\/p>\n<p>But the trumpet\u2019s production is something else it\u2019s harmonising on itself making that melody it\u2019s playing more rounded.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Beautifully done.<\/p>\n<p>Toni goes off on a tangent adlibbing then blesses my ears with some sweeeeeeet sugar scat vocals\u2026.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what I\u2019m talking about!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Probably my favourite track on the album so far.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This one I wrote the review for already\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>Time to introduce my guys\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li>Gotta Go Fast &#8211; Blue Lab Beats<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Blue Lab Beats are back with more fire following up the monster of a track from 2021 \u201cMotherland Journey\u201d with \u201cGotta Go Fast\u201d.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Listening to this I ask myself can these two talented individuals do any wrong?<\/p>\n<p>Probobly not. It\u2019s hit 10,000+ &#8211; yes let me lay it down again TEN THOUSAND PLUS streams in its first day of release.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>So these are doing something special.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This track full of slick synths sounds &#8211; Herbie, George\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Guitar solo giving me George Benson callbacks\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The guest trumpet playing from Poppy Daniels is smooth and sultry, chromatic notes that give you the goosebumps. Wow she can PLAY!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The drums are mad. Really tight, the hi hats are off the chain the way that they come out in 16ths as well as rolls in some place but it all fits nicely!<\/p>\n<p>I could hear this being played with a live band and everyone having the time of their lives both on the stage and in the audience.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>*picks up phone and calls Jazz Cafe\u201d hey are you planning on having Blue Lab Beats?? Have a listen to THIS!<\/p>\n<p>Blue Lab Beats are a multi instrumentalist duo from London NKOK and Mr. DM. They are already causing havoc on the airwaves by having been played by Tom Robinson on the BBC Introducing Mixtape recently with \u201cMotherland Journey\u201d using Godfather of afrobeat Mr. Fela Kuta\u2019s vocals (Not an easy feat as his estate don\u2019t usually allow this to happen\u2026 but they did\u2026)<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>They have remixed tracks for Rag n Bone Man, Due Lipa and so many more.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This track is from their forthcoming album \u201cMotherland Journey.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Do not fall asleep on them. You will regret it.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li>A Vibe<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Oh it is indeed. This has a bit of a swing, but it\u2019s off beat, and\u2026 it makes it just bang.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The synth lead choices on this really do the job, really funky space age synths that make your head spin!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s all sat on a bed of rhodes piano, make it sounds sumptuous in my headphones\u2026 Lead guitar is back too, jazzy as anything!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li>Don\u2019t Give It Away (Feat. Emmavie)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Emmavie is a force of nature unto herself, so seeing her on the credits got me excited!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Do you know what?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>She did not disappoint me, and I\u2019m glad that she\u2019s on this, as a vocalist producer musician she absolutely KILLS\u2026..<\/p>\n<p>I love the trippy chord progression on this, and letting Emmavie do her thing on her vocals, I feel blessed listening to this.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li>Inhale and Exhale<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Bass harmonics with that sensual lead\u2026.you can almost meditate to this, I could hear ADSR vibes on this too..<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Are they channeling a bit of Victor Wooten with the bass here?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Possibly\u2026.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"8\">\n<li>Blow You Away (Delilah) (Featuring Ghetto Boy)<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This is an Afro beat groove starting with a gorgeous guitar riff over some shaker, it\u2019s got that natural groove that makes you want to dance, with a little bit of swagger to the camera\u2026 I love Ghetto Boy\u2019s lazy vocals on this it just fits the track\u2026 The tempo thenslides into 5th gear<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>into this\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"9\">\n<li>Sensual Loving (Feat. Ghetto Boy)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The guitar line and horn parts really make this song groove along, this is a party starter for sure\u2026. This is a stand out track among so many stand out tracks on this, the drum roll to get things started just gives it that party atmosphere. This is the summer tune to end all summer tunes\u2026 This is part of the new amapiano vibe coming out of Africa and causing havoc in the diaspora right now\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"10\">\n<li>Motherland Journey<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>This is what I wrote about it back in December\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>When this dropped in my email, I was\u2026 shocked.<\/p>\n<p>Blue Lab Beats have been on my radar for a very long time, and they\u2019ve made some incredible music. If you don\u2019t believe me go look them up\u2026<\/p>\n<p>This track is no different in fact\u2026.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>They upped their game.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>NKOK (Namali Kwaten) and Mr. DM (David Mrakpor) have only gone and used the vocals of Fela Kuti on this track. For those of you who don\u2019t know he\u2019s one of the founding fathers of afrobeat as we know it, without him it could be argued that the afrobeat artists wouldn\u2019t exist today.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s amazing.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>My sister Justina coined a term a few years ago that I loved, this is ancestral soul as a genre, and it also taps into the relatively new genre amapiano that comes out of South Africa. They put their own unique jazzy twist on it too, with an addictive guitar line, but I have to shout out the horns that are being played here! WOW! Jazzy to the max. I was listening to this on the way home, and I\u2019ve been running it back and forth just to get the vibe.<\/p>\n<p>This was co written and produced with legendary Ghanaian engineer and producer KillBeatz. The estate of Mr. Kuti gave their blessing for this to be released \u2013 the track itself is based around the vocals from his song \u201cEverything Scatter\u201d. Shout out to the talents of Poppy Daniels and Kaidi Akinnibi playing those killer horn parts and solos!<\/p>\n<p>So who are Blue Lab Beats?<\/p>\n<p>Well, they\u2019re a duo from London, NKOK and Mr. DM met in the hallways of WAC (Weekends Arts College) where NKOK would bust his beats in the lunch hall, and Mr. DM invited him to come and hang out in a studio \u2013 watching Mr. DM play every instrument in the room\u2026. BOOM. It was a match made in heaven.<\/p>\n<p>There is one more detail\u2026..<\/p>\n<p>What is it?<\/p>\n<p>Oh yeah.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re grammy nominated for their work on the <b>Angelique Kidjo <\/b>album <b><i>Mother Nature<\/i><\/b>, and have a <b>MOBO <\/b>nomination for \u2018Best Jazz Act\u2019.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>This song banged back then.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Among the final project\u2026 It bangs now.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"11\">\n<li>Ultramarine Interlude<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>What I like about Blue Lab Beats is that their sound conjures up so many different images\u2026 This track is fluid in its flavour, and I don\u2019t think it\u2019s an accident\u2026. I think I understand the flow of this album now, the interludes break it up from jazz\/soul to Afrobeat to dance\u2026.<\/p>\n<p>Leading us into\u2026.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"12\">\n<li>Warp (Featuring Dead Mathod and Kaidi Akinnibi)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>D&amp;B drum beats. I know for a fact NKOK plays this live on his Maschine at breakneck speed<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>check out their Instagram if you think I\u2019m lying! There are some tasty chords with a lovely synth lead to go over it all, they are joined by Dead Mathod and Kaidi Akinnibi, the MVP here is that the lovely trumpet and sax solos that come in, really enjoyed that\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"13\">\n<li>Slow Down<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The vocals on this are silky smooth as delivered by Ego Ella May, this is the first time I\u2019ve ever heard of her and\u2026<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m impressed! Nice harmonies over a neo soul groove and there\u2019s a lovely high register lead synth solo later which is pleasing to the ear\u2026 another stand out track on this album.<\/p>\n<ol start=\"14\">\n<li>Dat It (Featuring Kiefer)<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The piano chords on this are hypnotic\u2026 and the piano solo to go with it just draw you in, makes me feel like I should be sitting in a jazz club listening to this. This is so soulful, and I\u2019ve probably listened to this at least four times\u2026<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"15\">\n<li>Home<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Oh the vocals are so sensual on this\u2026 this is just gorgeous!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Wow.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Right now I\u2019m looking out into my garden it\u2019s a gorgeous morning and this is soundtracking my morning tea.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Then comes in a trumpet solo that really talks to my soul.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m two two tracks away and I don\u2019t want this album to stop\u2026<\/p>\n<ol start=\"16\">\n<li>Real Good<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Jerome Thomas is the featured artist here, and does he go in on his harmonies?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Yes. Yes he does. I love the vinyl crackle at the beginning, you could just imagine this being dropped sometime in the 80s, and then brought of a time capsule for it to be revived and remixed. The soulfulness just<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp; <\/span>makes it fit snugly and being the penultimate track it just shows you that there\u2019s more to come.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<ol start=\"17\">\n<li>Reflection<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>The outro is so lovely. I love the strings on this, and could imagine a star studded performance with a string quartet with this\u2026 it\u2019s like the closing theme to a film soundtrack.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Credits roll.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a wrap!<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>On the whole, the entire album is a proper piece of work.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>What do I mean by that?<\/p>\n<p>Well you can\u2019t just dive in to one track you have to listen to it from top to bottom to get what it\u2019s all about.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>On a personal note I\u2019ve been looking forward to the release of this album since Blue Lab Beats announced it. The day before it was released my grandmother passed away.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Paraphrasing Leonard Cohen, \u201cI heard there was a secret chord that David played and it pleased the lord\u2026\u201d according to biblical accounts David used to play for King Saul to lift his spirit it was the only thing that would soothe his soul.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Given that the title track was recorded in Ghana, where my family are from, this made me think of Ghana, and my family.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Thankyou so much NKOK and Mr DM, this has given me light during a dark time.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Special thanks to Kwame and Maura Kwaten <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ferocioustalent.com\/\">Ferocious Talent <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"702\" height=\"733\" src=\"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/IMG_39EBFDB65148-1.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/IMG_39EBFDB65148-1.jpeg 702w, https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/IMG_39EBFDB65148-1-287x300.jpeg 287w, https:\/\/platinummind.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/IMG_39EBFDB65148-1-57x60.jpeg 57w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 702px) 100vw, 702px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blue Lab Beats &#8211; Motherland Journey Sky Reflections&nbsp; The first track on this opens with with an instrumental, you could just imagine this as a concert entry music\u2026 The way that this starts off is uplifting, and I love it. I love the the synth chords start out, and I really need to find out &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4378,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[221,191,220,42,118,181,40,129,174,208,172,139,31,143,132,30,185,215,153,37,142,182,233,187,150,175,183,162,54,75,126,154,156],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4377","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-afrobeat","category-alternative","category-amapiano","category-band","category-bass","category-blues","category-dance","category-drums","category-electronica","category-ghana","category-hip-hop","category-jazz","category-keyboards","category-london","category-lyricist","category-music","category-neo-soul","category-nigeria","category-percussion","category-piano","category-producer","category-rap","category-rhodes","category-saxophone","category-songwriter","category-soul","category-synthesizers","category-uk","category-uk-hip-hop","category-vinyl","category-vocals","category-woodwind","category-world-music"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4377"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4389,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4377\/revisions\/4389"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4378"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4377"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4377"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/platinummind.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}