Blue-in-Green:RADIO

Monday 19 June 2017

'Manifest Destiny' by Adam Turchin [Review]


Adding himself to the list of breakout musicians from Kendrick Lamar's seminal 'To Pimp A Butterfly' release in 2015, Adam Turchin's 'Manifest Destiny' takes its pride of place beside projects by Terrace Martin, Ronald Bruner Jr and Josef Leimberg.

Available through Ropeadope Records, it would be fair to say that this album serves as an excellent prelude to the Terrace Martin presented project by the supergroup, The Pollyseeds, due in June 2017 (of which Turchin himself is a member), but that comment in no way is intended to diminish the incredible work Turchin presents on this album. (If anything it's intention is to make you even more excited for the imminent Pollyseeds project.)

Having contributed to Martin's 'Velvet Portraits' and Leimberg's 'Astral Progressions', Turchin is fortunate enough to have the favours for each returned here, along with further contributions by Snarky Puppy drummer Robert 'Sput' Searight and vocalists Rose Gold and Kate Faust.  While the project certainly boasts an all-star cast, this is very much a project where Turchin is the star - credited throughout as writer and producer, he also demonstrates his skills through a variety of instruments including guitar, keyboards, saxophone and vocals.

'Manifest Destiny' is a beautifully thought out and fully-realised concept album that weaves confidently between genres while presenting something wholly original.  It's part R&B, it's part jazz, it's part hip-hop but it's all effortlessly brought together by lush and at times dreamy soundscapes and production making it an essential listening experience.  A true highlight for 2017 and for Ropeadope Records whose catalogue increases in excellence as the months pass.

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