Jolicoeur
By
Configa x Tommy Evans
Whenever anything
comes my way via UK Super Producer Configa, you can bet that there is always a
fellow legendary name in Hip Hop attached and this one is no different. Jolicoeur is the hot new release from what is Hip Hop’s
first Rapper/Producer PhD collaboration, yes indeed both Configa and veteran UK
Emcee Tommy Evans, both have a PhD.
If you are familiar with the blog then you will know my previous
reviews for Configa and be well acquainted with the main man himself, who has
worked with the likes of Arrested Development, Chuck D and Big Daddy Kane
alongside his producer albums but, this will be the first time I have featured
Tommy Evans. I am not going to give you a huge lowdown on him but, for those of
you who might not be familiar with his work; he was born in Leeds before making
London his home. Introduced to Hip Hop in the early eighties, he began rapping
seriously in 1995 and was linked with a number of crews before forming Junkyard
Tactics in 1996. After JYT supported De La Soul in 1997, Tommy went solo in
1998, and linked up with the YNR Crew in Huddersfield before making his debut
on Jehst’s 1999 “Premonitions EP” with the track Deadly Combination. Since that
time he has dropped his own releases via YNR, his own label run with Jehst and
Cee-Why, and worked along some of the UK’s best. His debut album, New Years
Revolutions, came in 2004 on YNR. It is impossible for me to list Tommy’s
collaborations and achievements here but just know that it is extensive and
worldwide. I followed many of the YNR releases myself back in the late 90’s and
early 2000’s, so it is truly a pleasure to feature his work here.
The album Jolicoeur, meaning A Gallant Heart, is a homage to the late Dave of De La
Soul but still encapsulates the artistic ethos and authenticity of both Configa
and Tommy Evans. The project features appearances from Speech (Arrested
Development), Sarah Sayed (Lebanese-American Poet), Matthew Allman and Malala,
alongside some of London’s emerging vocal talents including Doella, Glorynade,
Nyotaa, Tay-Shan, and VVN, there is even an appearance from another legendary
UK emcee in the form of Kyza. You really get the sense, even before listening,
that this album is shaping up to be something special, if maybe a little
different. However, there is only one way to know that for sure and that is to
follow me as I take you through my impressions of the album.
The album begins with Summertime which features Matthew Allman, Configa brings
this stunning funk fuelled beat that has bass, guitars, and keys, all of which
combine to give a vibe that is the very definition of how summer sounds.
Matthew Allmans soulful vocals are like an audible summer breeze, cooling you
from the heat. Tommy Evans brings some uplifting vocals that takes us on brief
but enjoyable trip through the summer months, letting us know that it’s all
about the things that uplift you and bring a smile to your face. That smile
remains firmly planted on your face as the bass, drums and keys of Every Situation keeps the vibe going with an infectious sound
that keeps you moving. This one sees Tommy Evans speaking on how you see
yourself and the outcome of the situations you find yourself in every day. It’s
all about keeping a positive outlook as you go into each one, even seeing
yourself already living in the best possible outcome and keeping that faith as
you walk forward.
They Are Not Expecting Us To Fight features Speech and sees regular collaborator
Configa bring us a solid boom bap beat with guitar vibes that gets your head
nodding and your fists pumping the sky. This one really has that revolutionary
vibe to it, which really reflects the feelings of so many of us in today’s
society. All round the world people are becoming fed up with the narratives
imposed on them by the ruling elite and are standing up to be heard and to
fight for their rights as free people. Straight after that feeling of the energy
of millions of people all around the world coming together Getaway is about the opposite and brings keys, drums and
bass to the table with a vibe that brings your focus back to the self with the
jazzy vocals of Doella. This one really does look at taking time for yourself,
doing whatever it takes to ground yourself and bring you back into who you
truly are, because the world around you often gets too much with the constant
influx of negative stimulus and just being you again is the best way to reset,
regardless of how you achieve it…
We Made It features Tay-Shan and Sarah Sayad, Configa brings us the
kind of uplifting sound that is reminiscent of his work with Arrested
Development, bringing an infectious vibe you can’t help but move to. Tay-Shan’s
soulful vocals, Sarah Sayad’s poetry and Tommy Evans’ lyrics all merge to bring
you a vibe that brings those good feelings to the forefront as it lifts you up,
making you think about all that you have achieved yourself, and invites you to
really feel good about those moments because they made you who you are and put
you in this place, in the here and now, so be proud of that because you made it
too. Thunder and the sound of rain herald the arrival of The Water, featuring Glorynade, this one has drums and keys
that bring a more Lo-Fi Hip Hop vibe, inviting you to listen a little bit more.
In fact, this one invites you to think more about the part water plays in our
lives and just how much our experiences with water so often mirror so many of
life’s experiences. Water is critical to our survival, but it can also be
detrimental if we drink too much; water can also help us travel to places or we
can drown in it. We have to respect the part water plays in our lives and treat
it with the respect it deserves.
Keep The Faith features Kyza and Nyotaa and has strings alongside the bass
and drums, bringing a soulful vibe that you want to close your eyes to and just
feel it. The message here is just to keep the faith that all will be ok. There
are so many challenges that we are presented with in our day-to-day lives that
it is easy to give up or look for the easy way out, but the important thing is
to stay in a positive frame of mind and know that the brighter days are coming
and soon enough the sun will shine on you. There is this mariachi guitar vibe on Senoritas, alongside a nice head nod beat too of course, that
gets you in a reflective mood. VVN brings some chilled soul vibes here as it is
all about how that special someone can bring so much to your life, bringing
maturity and love. This one also made me reflect on just what feminine energy
can bring to your life, you just have to be open to it.
The penultimate track is Memory Lane which features Doella’s jazzy vocals once more.
Configa brings strings, bass and drums, creating a chilled feel-good sound.
Tommy Evans takes us on an uplifting trip down his own memory lane, giving us a
great insight into some of the experiences he has had along the way. As you
listen, it kind of makes you cast your own mind back to some of those moments
that were perhaps life defining or just those which you enjoyed, bringing a
smile to your face again. The last track is Love Like This, which features Malala and has this big uplifting
sound that will have you moving regardless. You can’t get more uplifting than
love, and when you can express love for all that is around you, that is
something special but, as Tommy says, when you can truly love yourself, then
that is a love unlike anything you have ever felt until that moment. So, walk
through life expressing love for all you see around you because the more love
you give out, the more you will receive.
Now, it is not often that you will listen to an album that uplifts
you and keeps you there throughout its duration, but Jolicoeur does just that, it really is a triumph in
feel-good music. It really is hard to say anything more about this than it is a
true pleasure to listen to. From start to finish, Jolicoeur raises you right up and holds you there, keeping
you in this state of near euphoria. The energy seems to eminate from both the
music and the lyrics and gives you the feeling that this album has been infused
with good vibes. This album is like lighting a good incense, it fills your
mind, body and soul with positive vibes, just like the way the incense fills
the room with an uplifting aroma.
Configa proves, yet again, why he is one of THE go to Hip Hop
producers as he brings the kind of uplifting energy infused beats that you just
don’t want to turn off, which is really hard when you are trying to review
because you don’t want to pause the track or stop it to keep writing. He has
this knack of being in sync with whoever he is working with, bringing the
perfect sound to life that will create a platform for their vocals and lyrics,
and that is perfect for Tommy Evans here. I say that because Tommy’s lyrics are
from the heart and come with this infectious positivity that takes over your
whole body, just like the touch from Midas. To be honest, even the way his
lyrics flow has an uplifting feel to it and that is why I say he performs from
the heart, because when you truly come from the heart, a place of love, you
project nothing but positive vibes into everything you do, and this album
really does have that feel about it.
I would even say that all the guest artists who feature on this
album also bring that air of positivity and love. They all fit so well into
their places on the album, imbuing each track with an extra dimension of energy
and feeling that speaks to you on an unconscious level, perfectly mirroring the
overall energy of the album.
I really don’t think there is much more that I need to say here. Jolicoeur is an uplifting Hip Hop masterpiece that will
make you feel good no matter the time of year you listen to it. However, it is
out right now so I suggest you listen to it in the present…
My humble thanks to Configa once more for giving me the chance to
do my thing on such a truly stunning album.
I’ll see ya next time.
Steve.
LINKS
Grab your copy from Bandcamp Here:
https://configa.bandcamp.com/album/jolicoeur
Streaming links and more for Configa Here:
Tommy Evans on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/tommyevansofficial/
Configa Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/configa
https://www.instagram.com/configa/
VIDEOS
Summertime (feat Matthew Allman)
No comments:
Post a Comment