Raw Poetic Laminated Skies

Two years on from his last record, North Virginian rapper, singer and producer Jason Moore is back with his brilliant, sprawling and free-flowing sixth studio album as Raw Poetic. Teaming up with friend and long time collaborator, Earl Davis aka Damu the Fudgemunk on production and Pat “P” Fritz on guitar and Luke Stewart on bass, Laminated Skies is a bristling melting pot of styles that infects the head as much as the feet. Drawing on a multitude of genres, hip-hop occupies the centre of the Venn diagram of the record, without ever being the dominant style. Elements of jazz, soul, beat constructor and leftfield-funk merge, much like with hip-hop, to create something that feels altogether indefinable. Damu’s quality production brings these styles together subtley, creating a simmering undercurrent of rhythm and bass that sweeps us up and along for the journey. Vibraphone, melodica and kalimba join strings, programmed drums and scratching and synths in a beautiful and fascinating concoction of times, genres and moods. Raw Poetic’s effortlessly knowing voice and intelligent raps give the record its modern, on-point attitude. Despite its varied and ambitious styles, Laminated Skies manages to stay fluent, laidback, natural and easy going. That too, is the perfect description of the artist himself. Enjoy the flow.