| Vernon
Reid, Mistaken Identity Reto Koradi - Reviewer |
| Facing
Vernon Reid's first solo album with expectations of
finding another Living Colour album would be a very wrong
thing to do. Here is proof that the split was not caused
by profane reasons like personal differences or even
wanting to earn more money, but by at least one musician
striving to step into different musical territories. For
Reid, this partly means going back to his roots in jazz
and funk. Mistaken Identity is anything but a fast food album; it comes along as quite of a challenge to the unprepared listener. Large parts of it are instrumental; something such as a simple melody is nowhere to be found. Only repeated listens start to reveal hooks in the complex soundscapes. The most accessible tracks, like "CP Time" or "Saint Cobain", are characterized by a groundwork of percussions, strong bass, rap vocals, and Reid showing his muscles on the guitar, almost the only instances reminding of his past with Living Colour. Other tracks like "Lighnin'" have a prominent blues feel, with beautifully whining guitars, yet others are almost pure jazz. Another characteristic of Mistaken Identity is lots of creatively used samples. As so often occurs, the names of producers give a clear key to an album: besides Vernon Reid himself, these are Teo Macero, who has previously worked with jazz greats like Miles Davis, and Prince Paul, who produced De La Soul's masterpiece 3 Feet High And Rising. Vernon Reid's Mistaken Identity may catch some buyers on the wrong foot, and will most certainly be less commercially successful than the platinum-selling Living Colour albums. But listeners taking their time to explore it will be richly rewarded. Here is a remarkable album made by highly gifted and dedicated individuals, perfectly produced, with new things to be discovered in every listen. Time will tell how it will hold up, but chances are that we are witnesses of what might once be considered an essential release by many. |