Harmonies soar as high as
the emotional thrust of the percussive beats do in Integriti Reeves’ brooding
new single “Eu Vim Da Bahia,” which is out now and
stirring up a lot of attention in the Latin jazz underground this summer, to
say the least. The eroticized rhythm of the drums is only one of the many
evocative elements to behold in this three minute exercise in sonic
sophistication, and while it’s not the only superb jazz song to see release in
2019, there’s no debating that it is definitely among the most sublime in
texture and tonality.
Reeves’ vocal has an interesting relationship with the strings in this
track, and I think that it adds to the mood of the lyrics significantly. Her
voice is sewn into the fabric of the instrumental melody quite seamlessly, but
there’s enough definition in the mix for us to be able to differentiate where
one strand of vibrato ends and the other begins. They duel for our hearts as we
drift deeper and deeper into the guts of the song, but by the time we reach the
finish line, their agile interplay yields an almost singular force of
emotionality that transcends the limitations of most studio-recorded material
altogether.
The master mix is squeaky
clean, to such an extent where it sparkles more than the typical indie jazz
track would, but it isn’t overproduced or processed in tone. From the strings
to the muted bassline and the percussion that shadows its swaggering movements,
every component gets the VIP treatment in the grander scheme of things, yet
nothing ever comes close to equaling the presence of Reeves’ singing, which
doesn’t need a lot of extra help from the EQ in sounding anthemic, and at
times, larger than life itself.
There’s a lot of different
layers to “Eu Vim Da Bahia,” and though the stylization
is versatile and even a bit experimental, I don’t think that I would categorize
this single as being so far away from the mainstream model that it wouldn’t
appeal to casual fans as well as serious audiophiles. It will probably take a
full-length album to garner the attention of non-jazz fiends, but among the
right circles, the Stairway to the Stars
EP has the potential to be one of the hottest records of the summer season. Its
leadoff single has already brought the buzz to her camp, and I have a feeling
that I’m not the only critic raving over its edgy cosmetics and outside the box
construction.
I wasn’t aware of Integriti Reeves before, but I’m very interested in
what she’s produced in “Eu Vim Da Bahia.” It’s not a powerhouse stadium-rocker,
but it’s got a chill factor that I don’t recall encountering in any other Latin
jazz material that I’ve heard this month. This is a song that was designed
around its signature voice, and something tells me that this won’t be the only
time that this voice makes headlines with its white-hot harmonies and endlessly
endearing lyricism. Summer is upon us, and I can’t think of a much better
addition to its fabled soundtrack than “Eu Vim Da Bahia.”
Joshua Beach
No comments:
Post a Comment