To pigeonhole Amun Ra as just world, pop, or neo-soul would be doing the Boston-based band a disservice. Their music is something more adventurous, richer, and significantly more organic than my mere words can express. But I can try…
Fronted by expressive vocalist Emily Shirley, the band’s evocative style is augmented wonderfully by a line-up of clearly well versed musicians. Guitarist Misha Rutman, bassist Nate Horney, Neil Larson on keys, and drummer Ed Arnold work as a cohesive and intelligent unit. The soundscapes created by the five members resemble a mix of jam bands and trip-hop…the latter being a personal favorite. Though with that said, Amun Ra is rooted in reality rather than on an alternate plane populated by extraterrestrial synths and unnecessary noise.
Peppered with highly refined pop and tossed with the occasional jam band-esque freak out, Amun Ra’s 2003 debut Bloom just feels right. While it may not be entirely flawless, it is definitely worth a listen—especially by fans of any and all of the genres and sounds I’ve already mention and will mention from here on out. If Bloom does indeed have one fault it is that the band jams a bit too much for my taste. There’s nothing wrong with jamming per se, but when taken to an extreme (an in the case of Spiritual Expedition for example) it can become tedious.
So with that bit of dirty business out of the way, I must mention that by and large this album is easy on the ears and soothes the heart. At the apex of Amun Ra’s ambiance is, of course, Emily Shirley. Enveloped by coolly unique rhythms and sounds, she shimmers throughout. Opening with the round, open sounds of Ancient Sky the album is immediately appealing. The first notes are reminiscent of The Doors, but as the song progresses and Shirley’s voice is added to the mix it is crystalline that this isn’t a throwback of any kind—Amun Ra melds funky freedom with unrestrained spiritualism to create a wholly unique experience.
As Bloom saunters along, songs including Time, Maybe Rodin, El Zahf, and the strangely squelched Unsuccessful Sperm all manage to make an impact. Particularly notable is the latter, Unsuccessful Sperm, which shows a great deal of restraint on all counts. Rutman and Horney seem to hold back, but not so much as to hinder the overall picture. Arnold’s drumming is sporadic and appears only when necessary—and much the same thing goes for Larson’s keys.
Bloom is something different and strange for today’s listeners looking for something with a little verve and zest. Amun Ra definitely succeeds in creating a cohesive and entertaining kind of unclassifiable music. It may not be for the masses, but for fans of neo jazz and neo soul not to mention trip-hop and jam bands this band has a great deal to offer.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Ancient Sky
02. Bloom
03. Time
04. Spiritual Expedition
05. Maybe Rodin
06. El Zahf
07. Family Portrait
08. Step Back
09. Unsuccessful Sperm
10. All Eye C
For more info on the band check out their home page:
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