NEO CLOSER SONG SERIES

The aforementioned intro, вЂњHana-bi,вЂќ and the album closer вЂњse mi stacco da te, mi strappo tutto:вЂќ act as bookends, while вЂњOmвЂќ indicates the half-way mark, and вЂњKtmвЂќ sees Jason Lindner add his sound the album.

NEO CLOSER SONG SERIES

Mixed in throughout вЂњKuniвЂќ are a series of instrumental pieces that function as something akin to an interlude. The song gracefully bridges the gap between Hiatus Kaiyote-esque songwriting, DillaвЂ™s rhythmic syncopation, and ThundercatвЂ™s instrumental prowess (LNDFK has shared a stage Brainfeeder labelmate Kamasi Washington). Inspired by the graphic novel and film, вЂњSin City,вЂќ and its female assassin protagonist Miho, вЂњKuвЂќ is a musical interpretation of MihoвЂ™s story, incorporating both her beauty вЂ“ the first half of the song вЂ“ and murderous tendencies вЂ“ the second half вЂ“ to create a stunning juxtaposition, culminating in an ambient finale that suggests the characterвЂ™s vulnerability and inner peace. Meanwhile, вЂњKuвЂќ вЂ“ the third and last single before the album release вЂ“ furthers the pre-established future soul sound while meandering through nu jazz and left-field electronic. While these tracks may first appear to be outliers on the album, they are undeniably in tune with вЂњKuniвЂ™sвЂќ message and sonic palette, acting as testaments to LNDFKвЂ™s willingness to explore and experiment. Although they embrace a more hip hop-leaning sound, these songs by no means shy away from the exploratory theme, and feature two of the alt-rap scenes rising stars with Chester Watson and Pink Siifu who offer provocatively impressing verses, combining dense word play with unconventional flows. Chester Watson)вЂќ вЂ“ track #4 вЂ“ and вЂњHow Do We Know WeвЂ™re Alive (feat. LNDFK touches on experimental hip hop in two songs on the record (both of which were released as singles in 2021): вЂњDonвЂ™t Know IвЂ™m Dead or Not (feat. вЂњKuniвЂќ truly hits its stride with the next song, вЂњSmoke вЂ“ a moon or a buttonвЂќ (its title lifted from the 1959 book by Ruth Krauss and Remy Charlip), which is structured like a jazz standard yet flows into neo-soul territory sonically with those prodigious drums a highlight once again. LindaвЂ™s sultry voice is interspersed, initially jumping around in scat fashion, being triggered as if a sample, before her lyrics come in her vocals are used like an additional instrument, adding to the songвЂ™s rich texture. вЂњTakeshiвЂќ acts as an extension and to вЂњHana-bi,вЂќ albeit one of opposing sound, with its driving, highly syncopated drums (which reappear throughout вЂњKuniвЂќ) вЂ“ Г la Karriem Riggins, Questlove, or Yussef Dayes вЂ“ frenetic bass line, and jazz chords. вЂњHana-biвЂќ expresses the dialoguing opposites of flowers and fire, the first of many dichotomous representations throughout the album. Inspired by the Takeshi Kitano 1997 film of the same name вЂ“ particularly Joe HisaishiвЂ™s stunning soundtrack, as well as KitanoвЂ™s paintings which appear in the film. вЂњKuniвЂќ opens with вЂњHana-bi,вЂќ an ambient instrumental piece that sets the tone for the album. These opposites are reified in the 10-track LPs multifarious and multifaceted sounds, elegantly meandering through a variety of styles and genres, spearheaded by Linda and features the production wizardry of Darrio Bassolino who co-wrote the album. вЂњKuniвЂќ is a spellbinding exploration of dichotomies: Love & Death (Eros & Thanatos), Flower & Fire, Delicacy & Violence, Poetry & Realism, Purification & Destruction. Undeniably on the rise after her 2019 breakout performance at Primavera Sound, LNDFK has already caught the attention of Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Clash Magazine, Noisey, and Brooklyn Vegan (among many others) while being championed by the likes of Gilles Peterson, Tom Ravenscroft, and Jamz Supernova & landing spots on tastemaker playlists like SpotifyвЂ™s вЂњPollenвЂќ and вЂњFresh Finds.вЂќ

LNDFK (aka Linda Feki) presents her ground-breaking debut album, вЂњKuniвЂќ on Brooklyn-based Bastard Jazz Recordings.

Neo closer song