Spins: Album reviews

Sy Smith – Conflict

Artist: Sy Smith
Title: Conflict
Label: Psyko! Records
Genre: Soul/Hip-Hop/Electronica

Sy Smith is an original. A soul artist unafraid to dabble in various genres to achieve her sound, Sy has emerged as one of the driving forces behind the progressive soul community. With Conflict, Sy continues the exploration of her individuality, creating a tapestry that straddles traditional soul, pop, and electronica experiments. The result is an album that remains true to her unique style.

Because of constant touring, Smith may be best known as a soul artist of the highest order. But one listen to Conflict and it is apparent that she sees herself as something more than that. While funky and mellow neo-soul grooves are a major part of the vibe here as on standout tracks “The Things I Do” and the ultra slinky “Overthought” featuring Bilal Salaam, the tracks that have the most creative energy are anything but traditional. The broken beat and house flavors of “The Art Of You” could have been plucked from the Naked Music or Om Records catalogs. This track pulses with freedom as cascading percussion and baby coos swirl around Sy’s enchanting vocals. The trippy title track contains complex lyrics like “Conflict/ opposites/Psychological politics/Trying to live without regrets/Trying to make us all forget” and a hook built around the refrain “This is your brain of drugs.” “Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness” finds Sy declaring her musical independence by admitting “deep down inside I’m really gangsta.”  She further indulges her quirky sensibilities with “B-Side Love Affair”, a double-time drum & bass inspired tune with a jazzy flow.

There is no doubt that Sy Smith is what Nu-Soul is all about. She is an artist who draws inspiration from the traditions of jazz and soul yet pushes the sound into new territories by experimenting with new genres. For open-minded soul lovers, Conflict will definitely hit all the right notes.

-    Norman Mayers

www.myspace.com/sysmith

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