EBONY BONES - Bone Of My Bones

The trend launched by M.I.A. and carried on by Santogold, just to name the best-known examples, has spawned followers and enthusiasts pretty much everywhere. London's Ebony Bones picks up that freewheeling mix of reggae, funk and electronics and reshuffles the deck to put a spin on a now well-established formula. Capable of pushing things to the edge of crossover, this young artist deserves attention for the boldness with which she pours out her ideas.

"Bone Of My Bones" is an album packed with interesting ideas, oozing passion for music, and it proves to be a release with strong commercial appeal. Thanks to a crowded release schedule at the time, it received little attention. Despite its decidedly passionate approach to songwriting, the record never loses cohesion - if anything, its style built on blending various trends yields a result that's fizzy and inviting. The meticulous work on rhythm produces irresistible pop songs (the unbridled "W.A.R.R.I.O.R", the polyrhythms of "We Know All About U"), while the use of electronics is measured and well thought-out (the cutting synths of "Story Of St. Ockwell", unchecked mechanical whirls on "In G.O.D. We Trust").

Beyond the instrumental side, what's sometimes surprising is how easily the choruses stick in your head; here the artist also shows off remarkable vocal skills (the sudden key changes in "The Musik", a flood of emotion on "Guess We'll Always Have New York").

The party-music approach hits the mark without overdoing it (the chaotic fanfare of "When It Rains", the irresistible groove of "Were Ready When You Are"), while the blend of street rock and dance structures never falters (varied tribal rhythms on "Dont Fart On My Heart", the perfectly interlocking timbres of "Im Yr Future X Wife"). Rounding out the album is an intriguing weave of hip-hop and techno-pop ("Smiles & Cyanide").

An album suited to the scorching sunny days of summer, "Bone Of My Bones" carves out new paths for a genre that at times seemed to have run out of potential.

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23/08/2009