Multi-instrumentalist Zach Phillips and singer Ma Clément craft alluring jazz fusion songs in miniature. It is heady but not stuffy, precise but not rigid, dense but not cluttered.
Written by Andrea Domanick and KCRW Staff
Jul. 03, 2021
When listening to the remarkable debut full length from Genesis Owusu, “Smiling With No Teeth, one can t help but be struck by the sheer number of different genres between which the Ghana-born, Australia-based artist bounces at a head-snapping pace. There’s sludgy techno ( On the Move! ), synthy New Wave ( The Other Black Dog ), modern electronic R&B ( Centerfold ), retro soul ( Waitin On Ya & “Smiling With No Teeth”), political-leaning hip-hop ( I Don t See Colour ), and even punk rock ( Black Dogs ).
It’s an incredible feat, considering it took genre-bending artists like Bowie, Talking Heads, Grace Jones, or, more recently, Anderson .Paak, entire careers to cover this much musical ground. Yet Owusu who just delivered a powerhouse live set on Morning Becomes Eclectic keeps things cohesive with the common denominator that is his undeniable voice, presence, and lyrical prowess, making for one