Casablanco

Marsha Ambrosius was content to stay behind the scenes as a writer, producer, and occasional featured artist after the 2018 release of Nyla, her third solo album. In 2021, encouraged by Dr. Dre -- who at the time was recovering from a brain aneurysm and three strokes -- she recorded what developed into Casablanco, issued on the doctors Aftermath label. Dre gave Ambrosius carte blanche, and the two collaborators, aided by additional producers such as Focus..., Dem Jointz, and Erik Griggs, knocked it out during two inspired weeks. A 27-piece orchestra was brought in, yet theres even more sonic grandeur, at least in terms of cost, in a superabundance of samples and interpolations that took over a year to gain legal clearance. Conceptually, this is something like Ambrosius Dre-assisted, Jeru the Damaja-referencing cover of Sades "Love Is Stronger Than Pride" (off Friends & Lovers) expanded to album-length scope. Listening to it is akin to watching a film with a nonstop succession of needle drops. As such, it can come across like a mixtape. Though the reliance on old ideas can be fatiguing, its obvious that Ambrosius, Dre, and company had a ball piecing it together, and theres lyrical consistency with lust, romance, and heartache articulated throughout. Ambrosius elegantly complex turn on "Wet" alone -- with James Moody, the Dramatics, Minnie Riperton, Wu-Tang Clan, and more in the mix -- makes a strong enough argument for the singers continued activity as a solo artist. "Music of My Mind" puts a humorous cap on it, with the singer quoting Al B. Sure!, Earth, Wind & Fire, Patrice Rushen, and herself before rattling off a list of inspirations that includes "Soul II Soul, Loose Ends, blue chick in The Fifth Element," the latter replete with an operatic background flourish. ~ Andy Kellman

元フロエトリーのソングストレスがドクター・ドレーの制作で完成させたアルバムがついに到着。6年ぶりのソロ作だが旧縁のアフターマスからの初オリジナルで、デム・ジョインツらの関与も含めて以前客演したドレー『Compton』に連なる作品でもある。ナズやウータン・クランの90sヒップホップにジャズ古典、スティーヴィー・ワンダーなどのソウル名曲を巧みに引用し、重厚なビートと壮美なオーケストラで編み上げた楽曲は、マーシャの情熱的なメゾ・ソプラノの声や多重コーラスと相まってオペラに通じる高い芸術性で訴えかけてくる。名画オマージュの表題に恥じないシネマティックでドラマティックな傑作だ。
bounce (C)林剛