It’s very rare for people to dive into an album nowadays, and more so to find one where each and every song carries its own weight.
The new LP Mission Statement from Cleveland’s Karu (Quentin Allen) is a meditative, sensuous journey through jazzy grooves. Karu’s background of producing first electro and Hip-Hop beats in the early 80’s onto later making House, Downtempo, Jazz fusion and even Drum N Bass is evident from the moment you press play. The songs all unfold into an ethereal mood, using boom bap and deep House as the framework. From the chill and loungey vibes of “Open Foyer,” “Interstellar Mind” and “Tight Situation” to the Housier vibes of “My Brightness” and “Before the Night Comes”, this is the kind of work that reminds me of early Ninja Tunes, Mr. Scruff and Naked Music all rolled into one.
Mission Statement will be officially released worldwide on May 19th, 2017.