For an
African-American trans musician living in Berlin, where they were briefly
homeless during the making of this record, choosing the word “power” as the
title of a debut full-length record is a strong statement, to say the least.
Born J’Kerian Morgan
in Houston, where their musical career started by playing in high school
marching bands, Lotic is an instrumental artist whose music feels political
even before you find out their backstory. It’s post-Aphex Twin distorted
electronic music, which is likely what appealed to Bjork when she invited Lotic
to remix a recent track (a track co-produced by Arca, with whom Lotic shares
many aesthetic similarities). It’s also rooted in Southern hip-hop,
rhythmically, which gives it more bounce than many others in this scene—not
that it’s remotely similar to club music, however, though modern dance
choreographers can and should have a field day with this record. In its more
cathartic and lurching moments, there are also nods to the sprawling emotional
landscapes of Sigur Ros.
Lotic’s music
achieves, in part, what the recent collaboration between Daniel Lanois andVenetian Snares could not, a head-spinning array of sonic pleasures and
punishments. The drum hits here can feel like a shot to the gut; this music is
about living with the very real threat of everyday violence. “I’m bulletproof,”
intones Lotic on one of the few tracks here to feature vocals, and they’re not
just channelling Luke Cage. Another track here is called “Resilience,” which
sums up the entire record: situating beautiful and uplifting passages in a
ragged landscape. “Brown skin, masculine frame / head’s a target / acting real
feminine / make ’em vomit,” goes the chanted chorus of “Hunted.”
Power, the album, is
about transformation, between worlds, between identities. “Finding my own power
was living in my femininity,” Lotic told Fact Magazine. No question their
personal life bleeds into the music, but the music itself is powerful just on
its own terms, especially when Lotic’s surprisingly beautiful, crooning voice
takes the lead on the closing track, “Solace.” (July 27)
Stream: “Love and
Light,” “Hunted,” “Resilience”
No comments:
Post a Comment