ANERAH YASOLE-IDENTIFICATION E.P.

dereksmusicblog ♦ September 2, 2013 ♦ Leave a comment

ANERAH YASOLE-IDENTIFICATION E.P.

It’s been a while since we last heard from Offering Recordings. At last, the wait is over. They return with one of their best releases so far, Anerah Yasole’s debut E.P. Identification which will be released soon. Identification is a seven-track E.P. This includes six versions of Fazer Amor, which features the sultry sound of Gomolemo. First up is the Radio Edit of Fazer Amor. Quite simply, it’s four mesmeric and magical minutes where you’re introduced to the sensual, seductive voice of Gomolemo. After that, there’s another five remixes of Fazer Amor to enjoy.

The first remix of Fazer Amor is the Main Mix. Next up is the Broken Dub and Musicapella. Then Lars Behrenroth works his magic on Fazer Amor, producing two very different and totally unique remixes. Closing the Identification E.P. is Vigor Souls Of Mombasa. That’s the seventh and final track on Anerah Yasole’s Identification E.P. which I’ll tell you about.

Opening Anerah Yasole’s Identification E.P. is the Radio Edit of Fazer Amo, which means making love in Portuguese. It features the sultry, seductive, smooth and soulful sound of Gomolemo. Her vocal is needy and ethereal, veering between Nu Soul and a jazzy scat. Harmonies are graceful and elegant, prove the perfect foil. So do short, sharp bursts of rasping horns, urgent drums and percussion. Later, Gomolemo’s vocal becomes a sassy, strident and sensual proto-rap. Breathy and needy, Gomolemo veers between jazz and soul on this sultry Magnus Opus.

With five other versions of Fazer Amor to investigate there’s something for everyone here. The Main Mix with its prolonged introduction heightens the tension and drama. There’s a darker, moodier, almost minimalistic sound. It’s over a minute before a horn growls and two minutes before Gomolemo’s scatted vocal enters. This works, anticipation and tension are heightened on this quite understated, musical journey. The Broken Dub Mix sees broken beat and dub influence the remixer. Again, there’s an almost understated, cinematic sound with the arrangement pared back.

On the Musicapella Mix of Fazer Amor, a different approach is taken. It’s a case of sticking the original version much more closely, and lengthening parts. Here, the vocal is central to the mix, where it deserves to be. It carries the melody, while the horns take charge of the counter melody. Veering between sassy and sultry, right through to moody, broody and atmospheric, this to me is the best mix of the five.

Lars Behrenroth has two remixes on the Identification E.P. His first remix, simply called the Lars Behrenroth Remix is a pulsating dance-floor friendly remix. The drums are beefier, while washes of synths and hissing hi-hats are added. Gomolemo’s vocal sits above the arrangement, as she becomes a dance-floor diva. Later, synths beep and squeak as Gomolemo delivers her sensual, steamy rap. By the end of the track, you realize that Lars has reinvented the track and ensured it’ll be a favorite of DJs everywhere. 

As for Lars Behrenroth’s other remix, it’s the 4:20am Dub mix. Again, he adds a pulsating backdrop of drums, hissing hi-hats and keyboards before the melancholy horns are dropped in. While drums pound, synths squeak and beep adding to the tension. Gone is the vocal. In its place, the horns are placed at the heart of the arrangement. Although this works really well, resulting in an atmospheric track, it seems strange not to make use of a stunning vocal. Having said that, I love this remix’s broody, cinematic sound.

Closing Anerah Yasole’s debut E.P. Identification is Vigor Souls of Mombasa. There’s an atmospheric African roots sound to the track. Just drums and percussion join forces on a track written, arranged and produced by Anerah. Gradually, the tension rises. Instruments are added at the right time. A shaker adds drama, as the track meanders along. By now, it has a gloriously repetitive, with a hypnotic groove having unfolded. As the song progresses, the arrangement builds. So does the tension. Bursts of vocal and keyboards are part of this mesmeric, groove driven track.

So that’s the story of Anerah Yasole’s debut E.P. Identification. This is his first release for Offering Recordings. Let’s hope it’s not his last. Anerah Yasole is a producer with a big future in front of him. Inventive and innovative, Fazer Amor and Vigor Souls of Mombasa show two sides of Anerah Yasole. Fazer Amor was a fusion of Nu Soul and jazz, which showcased the seductive sound of Gomolemo. Her vocal made the song. Mind you, her vocal couldn’t exist with Anerah Yasole’s arrangement. The best way to describe Fazer Amor is a heaven sent collaboration. As for Vigor Souls of Mombasa, it has a hypnotic, African roots sound. It shows another side to Anerah Yasole, a versatile and talented producer. In many ways, Identification is just a tantalizing taste of what Anerah Yasole is capable of. I for one look forward to hearing Anerah Yasole’s debut album. In the meantime, his debut debut E.P. Identification is a delicious taste of what Offering Recordings’ latest signing Anerah Yasole is capable of.

ANERAH YASOLE-IDENTIFICATION E.P.