Maxwell - Embrya (Columbia) Once in a while an album restores your faith. Fans of sexy soul jams, tired of the bump-n-grind sentiments in today's R & B, will undoubtedly be enthralled by Maxwell's new album.
With his 1996 debut Urban Hang Suite Maxwell astounded with an album that took soul to places it had not been in a long time.
He has done it again with Embrya. From the opening bass line of Everwanting: To Want You To Want right through to the intriguing instrumental Embrya, Maxwell introduces you to his world. Erotic, airy, sensual and downright sexy, this album is an experience from start to finish.
He seduces you with funky guitar strings, Spanish melodies, ethereal vocals and beautifully constructed harmonies. There is the submerging and elegant rhythm of Drowndeep: Hula, the funk groove of Matrimony: Maybe You and the hauntingly divine Know These Things: Shouldn't You. Throughout the album Maxwell gives you musical poetry, where the music perfectly matches the sentiments of the lyrics.
The only real downfall is that it is all too beautiful. The tracks are all so perfect they sound overly produced, missing some of the rawness that made his debut so exquisite. The imagery is also a bit pretentious. Hopefully Maxwell will not get caught up in his retro-cool attitude and lose that laid-back feel.
Nevertheless, this is seduction music that only gets better the more you listen to it.