Many artists claim to sound like "the future". This term gets bandied about a lot, and most artists don't – but Seven Davis Jr. gets close. His debut album comes courtesy of Ninja Tune, known for releasing some of the weirdest and most colourful music in recent times, and a great fit for his brand of genre-bending electronic futurism.
Seven Davis Jr. is clearly determined to spread positivity through his music. On 'Universes', he's serving up spiritual soul food reminiscent of both George Clinton and house legend Derrick Carter. Funk and house meet in the melting pot and the result is quite unlike either ingredient.
What sets Seven Davis Jr. apart is the relaxed method in which he handles the concept of an LP. Often, debut albums merely cropping together collection of singles, lacking cohesion, maybe interspersed by a couple of slow numbers to mix up the mood a little. Accusing Seven Davis Jr. of this cardinal sin would be a mistake, with 'Universe' achieving the herculean task of creating a cohesive work out of disparate elements.
In 'Freedom', there's hip-hop, juke and hint of '80s power pop. 'Good Vibes', featuring close associate Julio Bashmore, layers a happy-go-lucky soul vocal over a drum track reminiscent of Chicago's pioneering Dance Mania label. Extended outro 'Welcome Back' descends into a prog-y freak out that Parliament Funkadelic, a clear influence, would have been proud of. Lush instrumentation pads out the metallic rasps and brief melodic bursts that characterised his previous dance-floor orientated efforts alongside Four Tet and Mos Def. It's all there and, surprisingly; it all appears to blend without issue.
Political cut 'Fighters' is the only misstep. Clocking in at almost six minutes, it begins to drag and causes the album's pacing to go awry. The track is a reminder that Seven Davis Jr. is at his best when his compositions are at their most simplistic, and their most funky. 'Sunday Morning' is the antithesis to 'Fighter' – an unpretentious stomper, with added hints of Moodymann.
Seven Davis Jr. certainly knows how to amalgamate his influences whilst crafting a new, more personal sound, and 'Universes' is a shining example of that. What's more, the album is indelibly inked with the artist's personality, optimism and humour. Seven Davis Jr.'s formula doesn't need to be radically altered. With one eye on America's rich musical history and one on the future of dance, if his formula needs to be tweaked, it is only by a little.
7/10
Words: Alex Green
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