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BRAHIM! Band: BRAHIM!

By Josh Deakin
February 18, 2021
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BRAHIM! Band's debut album BRAHIM! is an eclectic blend of jazz fusion, rhythm and blues, and hip-hop influenced rhyming schemes. The melodies that flow through this record stand out as a beautiful fusion compositions that borrows from several different genres of music.

The opening track, "Indescribable Feeling," starts with a slow build that grows into an insane cacophony of drumming by Matt Bent and Eric Metzgar. The intense drumming slowly fades into a pocket to lete tenor saxophone Luke Norris show through and blend with the vocal melody provided by singer Abe Nouri. The vocals slide back to allow a rapping verse from the group's second vocalist, Gary Lamaar.

"Jerry," a highlight on the on the album, takes the release to the next level in terms of complexity and creativity, providing progressive nodes to what BRAHIM! Band have already established as their sound. There are hints of

King Crimson

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1969

" data-original-title="" title="">King Crimson and

Yes

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Yes in the instrumental work, but the highlight of the track is the turntable work by Gary Lamaar. The scratching created by the turntable in an interesting choice and a big risk for a jazz record, but it absolutely works for BRAHIM!

"Lonely Side" could easily have been a

Pink Floyd

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Pink Floyd song on some of their more ambient releases. Nouri croons over the atmospheric melody beautifully and makes the song stand out on the record. The next track, "An Agreed Upon Evil," changes pace with a foot-stomping drum beat and a rap delivered in more of a spoken-word manner that drives the song firward. The track is reminiscent of A Tribe Called Quest in its jazz and hip-hop fusion. While this is BRAHIM! Band's first record, it is a strong effort that stands out as a unique release. They took several risks incorporating hip-hop elements and they made each risk turn out in their favor.

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Track Listing

Indescribable Feeling; Jerry; Fuck Biking; Lonely Side; An Agreed Upon Evil; Joseph.

Personnel

BRAHIM Band

band / ensemble / orchestra

Abe Nouri

vocals

Gary Lamaar

vocals

Luke Norris

saxophone

Andrew Links

synthesizer

Sterling Cozza

piano

Tyrone Allen II

bass

Matt Bent

drums

Eric Metzgar

drums

Additional Instrumentation

Abe Nouri: trombone, composer on all songs except "Fuck Biking", lyricist on all sung vocals except "Fuck Biking"; Gary Lamaar: turntables, lyricist on all raps; Andrew Links: organ, vocoder; Sterling Cozza: keyboards; Tyrone Allen II: synth bass, composer and lyricist for "Fuck Biking"; Andrew Cavaciuti: engineer, mixing; Colin Girod: mastering; Robert Gravelin: artwork

Album information

Title: BRAHIM! | Year Released: 2021 | Record Label: Self Produced

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