Purposeful art, conceptual exploration that refuses to let history fade away. Zooloo and The Seaweeds collaborate for an immense musical project designed to pay tribute to the terrifying deportation and enslavement of black people.
Both creatively and lyrically devoted to this topic, Black Pearls presents a culmination of reflection and in depth research, to bring forth a project that not only lyrically tells the stories, but stylistically intertwines aspects of African instrumentation and contemporary sounds. The result is something that fearlessly meanders from the ambient and atmospheric, to the soulful and bluesy, as we progress from the compelling depths of Intro, through the slick grooves and storytelling darkness of Sailed Away and I Smell a Rat.
Big-band anthems on the one hand, a sound that urges you to hear it in the live setting, and unignorable struggle and suffering represented on the other – an album dedicated to the pain and resilience of black Africans, during the cruel decades of slavery and their world being unjustly destroyed and taken from them.
Soaring rock solos, bold and beautiful voices, organic grooves and intriguing, confronting and clever lyrics. Black Pearls is sort of a greatest hits collection of huge songs, but also rightfully provokes its audience into remembering the details of such a historical stain from our shared past.
Consider the easy groove of Hey You the Next Girl, the juxtaposed scorn of its story and vocal grit, and then the shoulder-swaying calm of No More Cold Nights II. Then there’s the sudden riding bass and jazz lightness of Blues in Paris – a song that works to reground the stories of the past within the more recent days of our lives. Versatility matters, but the sound is also well-rooted amidst this poetic and enthralling sense of meaning and stylistic charm.
Anthem of The Cotton Fields is also one of the album’s most memorable tracks, perhaps for its unforgettable title and this blues-shuffle of a groove. It’s less mysterious, more broadly accessible, with a powerful choir of male voices adding unignorable depth and dynamic to the presentation.
Other highlights include the organic blues stomp and slide of Hot Stuff on The Bayou, one of the more authentically relevant styles to match a song that’s naturally catchy. Then there’s the more bold and anthemic, rather fascinating theatrical delivery and intricate lyricism of The River Whispers; and of course, the beautifully harmonised, haunting and unforgettable Little Ghost.
Really though, all fifteen tracks of Black Pearls are easy to let play, blending those soulful good vibes with fearlessly scornful stories and celebrations alike – a respectful journey through unthinkable turmoil, and a brilliantly crafted album of original music.
Zooloo and the Seaweeds create with intention and heart, and Black Pearls marks a fine example of all of this united under a shared desire to acknowledge the wrongdoings of the past.
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Thank you for sharing our journey Rebecca!