Artist: Sarah White
Title: Hiding Blind
Label: Bagpak
Genre: Soul/Electronica/Broken Beat
“Call me green because I’m jealous of her. You know she’s got nothing on me.”
You know what? She’s right. Sarah White’s new EP Hiding Blind is kitsch yet a charmingly uncanny and mystical work of art. The smoky-eyed chanteuse is a songbird of a different flock with a sound fusing electrodub, crunk sounds, hip-hop, tribal and jazz-soul among other genres and interesting lyrical content. White does something rather odd: she sings in a somewhat haiku, on topics ranging from sexual encounters and unrequited love to rather interesting music.
White’s principal producer for Hiding Blind, DJ Don Cuco, gave White a sound that mirrors few artists while transforming her musical caricature and lyrical content into a new animal. White, who can be compared to beloved artistes India.Arie, Lauryn Hill and Sadé Adu, is given a distinct harmonious background known only to artistes M.I.A. and Björk with the aid of the compelling Cuco.
Songs “Big Dance,” “Dance on Mars,” “Freakness” and the EP’s title track are all magical surprises especially for a record only housing nine songs on its playlist. The former half of Black Blonde loosens up with the abstract jingle afrobeat-pop “Dance on Mars” which sounds like a dance-along ringtone. The song’s message: tribal music—or more so, music—is like Mars, providing a titillating experience with its African tribal funky backing vocals. The exceptionally bubbly “Big Dance” with its childish tease, unleashes a barbwire braced techno-grime electro-dancehall hip-hop groove.
Other songs such as “Freakness” and the title track, while parallels apart, complete the EP. “Freakness,” is a song that may recall raindrops falling into a tin can. However, its sexy, pulsating Arabic dance pop-Reggaeton, gives the album an upbeat flare while the title track delivers a calm after the storm. “Hiding Blind,” a trip hop R&B, synth-soulful tour de force that may be influenced by an early Des’ree effort is a great track for contemplating or singing in the shower because of the melody’s slow crawl. “Walk Away,” featuring emcee Manifest, evokes the enchantment of the melodic sounds The Fugees’ “Ready or Not” with its hip-hop jive and its slow, sexy electro-synth dub, lovers rock flow.
Hiding Blind is a gem. Sarah White’s an interesting entity for the masses. While a acquired taste, she’s right; no one can touch her.
- Marcus Scott
