This week's PBS Feature Album is Wu Hen - the sophomore album from Peckham visionary Kamaal Williams.
Cinematic strings from Miguel-Atwood Ferguson and virtuoso saxophone from Quinn Mason are textural additions that make for a deeper, multi-layered experience than previous releases.
Bringing groove back to the forefront, Wu Hen oscillates between celestial jazz, funk, rap and r&b reinforced with the beat-heavy attitude of grime, jungle, house and garage – a self-styled fusion Kamaal describes as 'Wu Funk'. Kamaal launches his new vision with frenetic first single 'One More Time', out now on Black Focus via Inertia Music.
When pressed for insight into the album’s overarching themes, Kamaal proclaims: “This is a revolution of the mind. A spiritual rebellion: To reach new heights requires separating ourselves from the material world and finding power in what’s intangible. That’s what music and art is for – whether it’s a primitive emotion or something deep, you feel it. And there’s a subliminal element that resonates throughout my work. If you’re painting, it’s what you’re feeling as you’re painting. And the person looking at that artwork or listening to that music, they can feel it too, because it’s sincere.”
TOP TRACKS WE'RE LOVING
Songhoy Blues - 'Badala'
Adam Simmons, Jean Poole - 'Crazy Girl'
Luke Howard - 'The Metaphysical'
Wax Chattels - 'Efficiency'
Budos Band - 'Long In The Tooth'
Lorelei - 'Pale'
Plastic - 'Baby Steps'
Khotin - 'WEM Lagoon Jump'
Max Richter, Mari Samuelsen - 'Mercy'
