Search - Shafiq :: En'a-Free-Ka

One of the best albums I've not only listened to but experie

J. Johnson | CT | 03/01/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Pure Brilliance.



I'm a huge fan of Sa-Ra as their last release, Nuclear Evolution: The Age of Love, as well as the remixes they've done for the likes of Jamiroquai, Medeski Martin Wood, Four Tet, Kleeer, Tosca and Roots Manuva rarely escaped my earbuds.



Shafiq Husayn, one third of Sa-Ra Creative Partners (alongside Om'Mas Keith and Taz Arnold), shows that Sa-Ra's collective genius is no fluke.



Shafiq En'a-Free-Ka is simply one of the best albums I've not only merely listened to but experienced in years. The album is a tapestry of invention and sounds. To call Shafiq's production flat out brilliant is an understatement. He creates a moody, funky, spacey atmosphere that remains consistent despite the variances in style that swings from soulful pyschedelica (the standout "Changes") to swampy funk ("Cheeba", which invokes D'Angelo's Voodoo period all the way down to Bilal's falsetto) to drowsy Krautrock ("Major Heavy") to tropical quiet storm ("Le Star") to ominous hip hop stomp ("All Dead").



Shafiq En'a-Free-Ka, which translates to 'Shafiq in a free state of mind', is a concept album that proves uplifting and multi-hued. It is obviously a work created out of pure inspiration and love.



Although I personally disliked the back-to-back punch of Major Heavy and Evil Man and omitted them from my personal sequence of the album, I can still honestly say that this album is a modern genre-defying masterpiece.



How often can you say that a single album touches your heart and soul while having you nod AND use your head?



Shafiq En'a-Free-Ka is that rare album.



"

Wonky/Funky/Purposeful

Jetrocket | NYC | 10/26/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

""En'a-free-ka" is a complex and rewarding project from Shafiq Husayn, one of the leaders of LA's Sa-RA-Creative Partnership. As such, the CD is representative of the musical inventiveness that is currently floating out of the LA underground. At its core, En'a-Free-ka is a funk/soul project of the highest order with an Afro-centric concept tying it all together. Musically dense and layered, as well as varied, the lyrics and soundscapes collide in an impressionistic way compelling the listener towards a deeper examination and repeated listening. To support the musical vision of the cd, Shafiq has gathered a cracking roster of players and supporters who fill the project with excellent sounds including the singer's singer Bilal Oliver -- 1st Born Second; ace producer/arranger/musician Miquel Fergueson -- Suite For Ma Dukes, upcoming vocalists Jimetta Rose and Fatima, and beat wizards/artist Daedulus -- Love to Make Music To and GB -- Soundtrack for Sunrise. Their contributions result in a solid and consistent set that points the way forward. This is an excellent companion to SA-RA's Nuclear evolution -- Nuclear Evolution: The Age Of Love. Definitely one to check if you are into progressive sounds...."

Dense, intelligent and immersive funk

Scott Woods | Columbus, Ohio United States | 10/28/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you're into a more progressive groove in the vein of Georgia Anne Muldrow, Madlib and Erykah Badu's last couple of records, you'll find a lot to like here. It is a dense record with lots of sonic layers. Something different will pop out at you every time you listen to parts of it. The groove is playful and the beats loose, and teh entire palette comes off sounding like something the Fat Albert band woiuld have played on their junkyard instruments if they'd kept the band together. There's a 70s jazz fusion vibe underneath everything that appeals to the part of me that still holds a torch for old Roy Ayers. Like I said, complex.



It's funky, varied and remarkably un-radio-friendly in terms of structure and intelligence. If you're into the Sa-Ra stuff, then you'll love this. It's a more concentrated version of those records, with a nice blend of black power for icing. Standout tracks include "Changes", "Le'Star", "Love Still Hurts" and "No Moor"."