Available on: Universal Motown LP

“Part One was made with the right side of my brain, the logical, political, thoughtful. Part Two is from the left. Emotional, personal, it’s my soul coming out, it’s my all, it’s everything.” – Erykah Badu

Erykah Badu is undoubtedly one of the most unique recording artists in Western music. The first woman of the nineties Neo-Soul movement, she’s defined the genre ever since and is one of the only vocalists who can seamlessly fuse jazz, RnB and hip-hop with the level of eccentricity she’s become known for. Her vision, creativity and admission of being a complete control freak (her record label is even called Control Freaq) makes her one of the best.

It’s been three years since New Amerykah Part One was released, and it’s only just left my stereo. True story. And after some extensive listening, it’s likely Part Two will at least be there for the foreseeable future.

Her fifth studio album, Erykah here enlists the same team that made Part One. Crediting herself as producer, percussionist, vocalist and lyricist, she also reaches out to the Soulquarians (check Wiki if you’re unfamiliar) and enlists Madlib, 9th Wonder, Sa-Ra’s Om’Mas Keith and Shafiq Husayn, ?uestlove, J Dilla, Karriem Riggins, Ta’Raach, Bilal and the highly underrated Georgina Anne Muldrow. There’s more live instrumentation than Part One, with harps, live percussion, claps and more all utilized.

‘Fall in Love (Your Funeral)’ kicks off with an infectious hook taken from the Temptations founder Eddie Kendrick’s ‘Intimate Friends’. It’s a track with similar impact to Part One‘s ‘Soldier’, also produced by Karriem Riggins. Immediate stand-out tracks ‘Strawberry Incense’ and ‘Umm Hmm’ are both produced by Madlib, and are further proof that when these two get together the results are pretty much musical heaven. ‘Incense’s free-flowing groove is offset by a stunning harp solo and distinctive Madlib drum kicks, and your man shines again on ‘Umm Hmm’, disguising one of his many rare jazz samples with just the right amount of bass.

‘Agitation’ is one that I wish was longer than the minute and a half interlude it is. Taking a wonderful sample from jazz musician David Sancious, Erykah drops one of her beautiful harmonies over its piano. No doubt it would be just as enjoyable as a fully realised song.

‘Love’ is the one track produced by late long-time collaborator J Dilla, and is worked out as a dedication to the man himself, Erykah stating that “J Dilla is the epitome of what a scientist is. Taking different elements from music, different sounds and frequencies, then creating them into his own instrument and into masterpieces that are so beautiful, that orchestras and composers want to replay his productions.”

‘Loving You’, ‘Turn Away (Get Munny)’ and ‘Gone Baby Don’t Be Long’ are great without sharing the impact of the previously mentioned cuts, while the previously leaked bonus track ‘Jump in the Air & Stay There’, featuring Bilal and Lil Wayne, remains a highlight. ‘Window Seat’ (you’ve seen the video, right?) will appeal to those who enjoyed Erykah’s first album, Baduizm. She may have stated at a recent listening party that this record was “nothing like Baduizm” but the comparison can’t be denied. While we’re on the subject, she channels her inner Billie Holiday on album opener ’20 feet Tall’, which is reminiscent of the epic ‘Green Eyes’ from her second LP Mama’s Gun.

Part Two closes on the ten-minute plus ‘Out my Mind, Just in Time’, which sees Erykah push her vocal chords to full effect, proving once again that she has personality and a voice like no one else on a considered, beautiful album that captivates from beginning to end.

Zainab Jama