Indigo Child is
the debut Album from the up and coming artist Raury, of East Atlanta. A city synonymous with great music, one of
which that has given us artists such as Outkast
(aka Andre 3000 & Big Boi), The Black
Crowes, Mary Lou Williams, and Gladys Knight. Shining in the footsteps
of those who came before him, Raury has
made many waves within the music industry and is about to make a whole lot
more.
Indigo child is
many things, ambitious, refreshingly creative, sophisticated, and well produced.
It’s like a breath of fresh air for what is to be the next generation of music.
Raury has
certainly earned his praise, not only showcasing his talents; he has also demonstrated
his versatility, and incredible range. It would be a shame to simply label this
album as hip hop, as it is clearly much more. When you listen to this album, a
sophisticated and well-layered achievement, you will become immersed in tones
of folk, soul, jazz, gospel, rock, light rock, psych-rock, and neo soul, along
with hip hop.
The first track War
pt. 1, is like an introduction, a pep-talk as such, before the big game;
it’s a build up, getting the listener ready for what is to come and leaves us
eager and ready to go for the next song. The album itself is reminiscent of Frank Ocean’s mix-tape - Nostalgia, Ultra, with a number of its
tracks being not so much music themselves, but rather substance for the album
to connect. Especially the tracks What
Goes Up, Rest, Dreaducation, and Sweet N Sour. These tracks are all strongly reminiscent of songs
like Street Fighter and Goldeneye from Nostalgia, Ultra, but they also achieve something else.
As I said these tracks are not necessarily music; rather they
are recordings of discussions and arguments between, what we can assume is Raury and his Mother. The most
important track in my opinion is Sweet N
Sour, when Raury’s mother is
voicing her concerns for his future and her opinion on what really matters.
This track is important for many reasons and if any, it can
be defined by two. It comes from his mother’s words; there is a sense of
nostalgia created, drawn from his mother’s words, they resonate with the
listener and allow you to relate to what she is saying.
“I’m still the parent
and I still have a right to my opinion, and when it all goes down ain’t
nobodies fuckin’ opinion gonna count but mine”
I mean who hasn’t been in an argument or discussion with
their mother relating to their future. This sentiment not only creates a sense
of honesty, but it creates a window into Raury’s
life, yet at the same time a link to many of our own, casting the listener back
to days gone by to take look at their own life and reminisce.
This overall sense of nostalgia is furthermore emphasized by
tracks such as Chariot of Fire and Seven Suns, which have a strong 80/90’s feel about them. The entire album
resonates with this, but also communicates what comes next. ‘War pt. 2’?
Indigo Child
explores a lot, with smooth acoustic-guitar, accentuating harmonic
combinations, watery and at times moody piano solos, strong vocals, and occasionally
obscure guitar riffs. With dramatic and in-your-face one-liners, with a rift that’s damn tasty, the album delivers. Seriously it
does, for 17-years of age, Raury has
done well, and has set the bar high.
Rating - 4 out of 5
