http://http://pitchforkmedia.com/record-reviews/l/lidell_jamie/multiply.shtml
Sometimes a review is like a recipe. Writer Mark Pytlik and I are both want to ideally recreate the same Jamie Lidell release for the reader only we have two slightly different ways of going about it. His recipe features Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, and Stevie Wonder while mine includes a heaping cup of Prince. Otherwise every single line PFM writes about this release would read like or actually better than I could ever hope to sum up a visionary throwback such as Jamie Lidell.
(As some of you know I am obsessed with music makeovers and for J.L to morph from Super_Collider to heavenly father of funk is truly remarkable on its own.)
Neo Soul? Is that what the kids call this? Well call it whatever you would like but “Multiply” is quality soul, funk and R&B to the point of perfection. I will never quite grasp how the hell PFM grade system really works but sure, an 8.5...I can dance to that.
On a side note (actually the PFM review sort of touches upon label identity) “Multiply”s release via the good people at Warp creates an interesting issue. I commend Warp for having the blessed skill of finding absolute talent regardless of genre but in the end I believe it may be the indie label connection that could weigh down the possible crossover success Jamie Lidell deserves. I don’t mean to imply this is a flaw on Warp’s behalf, I think this is the hurdle any indie label might face when trying to break an artist of this ilk. Had “Multiply” debuted on a major label with all their bells and whistles connected to the top 40 mainstream America, would Jamie Lidell be approaching superstar status rather than hipster flavor of the week or month?
People should be grinding to this on Soul Train. VJs on BET should be claiming Jaimie to be the savior of soul before playing his #1 video. John Legend should be co-headlining worldwide tours with him. I don’t mean to say that winning over the indie community isn’t enough but “Multiply” deserves to reach FAR BEYOND the confines of just a good Pitchfork review and their rabid followers.
