Madita

trip-hop

Since their first collaboration on Dzihan & Kamien’s 2002 album ‘Gran Riserva’, vocalist / songwriter Madita and multi-instrumentalist / producer Vlado Dzihan have forged an ongoing partnership in music as well as in life. This debut self-titled album from Madita through Dzihan & Kamien’s Couch label represents the latest fruits of their labours, with Dzihan responsible for all of the instruments and production throughout. Occupying similar downbeat / nu-jazz terrain to D & K’s previous album releases, but anchored more around a chanteuse-tinged female vocal and lyrical presence, much of the broken-beat infused material here veers towards the end of the spectrum typified by the likes of Lamb and Zero 7, with perhaps more of a vintage instrumental soul vibe in the vein of Alice Russell tangibly present throughout. Opening track ‘Ceylon’ slides open from crackling, glitchy beats and elegant piano into one of this album’s strongest downbeat moments, a tangible hiphop pulse wandering its way beneath echoing electronics, synthetic bass and a hint of feathery flamenco guitar fretwork, as Madita’s spectacular voice rings out, under and through the lush elements in a manner that suggests G-Stone sent soaring into vocal territory. One particular strength that has to be mentioned that really adds to this record is the fact that Madita has the confidence to sing in her own ‘voice’, and while her stylings certainly indicate a familiarity with the likes of Ella Fitz...