Album Review: Vernon Reid - Hoodoo Telemetry
Reviewed by Matthew Williams
There are several guitarists out there who I feel don’t get the credit they deserve. Think Alex Skolnick or Rob Cavestany, who play at levels way above others, and this is where Vernon Reid sits in my opinion. From the first time I heard Living Colour’s “Cult of Personality” I was hooked, and his playing was a major part of that. Seeing them live is an out of this world experience, as the quartet are mesmerising to watch, and the legendary Reid is something else, so composed, so accomplished, and a damn nice bloke as well.
What makes the best guitarists stand out, is their ability to play a wide range of music, and on “Hoodoo Telemetry” you certainly get that. As Reid himself says, the fourteen tracks are “like a piece of my all-over-the-place mind” and listening to the wonderful “Freedom Jazz Dance” or the banjo playing on “My Little Zulu Babe” confirms that. My head was spinning the first time I played it as it has so much going on, and you get so many tempo changes as heard on “Good Afternoon Everyone” as Reid incorporates so many different playing styles.
At first, I did find it hard to listen to and detach myself from the fact that the vocals on the record were not going to be Cory Glover’s, as he’s one of my favourite frontmen, but you get different collaborators that cross generations. Reid is well known for his political views, and you can hear these on the big band song “Politician” as he points out that “everything I do, is a protest of one kind or another” and this album is a culmination of different thoughts he’s been having.
I love the homage to the hip hop scene on “Bronx Paradox” which reminds me in parts to Guru’s Jazzmatazz album, it’s a sublime piece of music mixed with elements of jazz, funk and Reid’s trademark silky solo skills. And this is followed by something equally compelling entitled “Or Knot”. The jazz fusion is impressive, and I can picture the musicians on a stage in a dark jazz club, playing this with consummate ease.
There are fourteen songs to enjoy on this record, some are extremely mellow, “Dying to Live” and there are others, “Black Fathom Five” with its drum n bass undertone, that make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck. However, what you’ll appreciate most is the creativity and intelligence of each song, which can be summed up by one of the songs called “Beautiful Bastard”. It’s hypnotic, smooth, relaxed with an ethereal vocal.
Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to get inside the heads of peoples, but with “Hoodoo Telemetry” Vernon Reid has invited us into his mind, and in his own words “I liked the idea of a musician risking it all to change” and at 66 years old, he’s still relevant and dynamic. His guitar playing is at levels way above most of us, and these songs represent where he has come from, where he has been and where he is right now.
Listening to it right now…it’s great! I’ve loved Vernon and the LC boys since Vivid came out. I’ve seen them live three times and you’re right, Vernon is the definition of a professional musician. I know I don’t see eye to eye with him politically but I appreciate him so much as a musician…a very underrated musician…and this new album shows his incredible diverse talent.
This is a great album and I am so proud of him and to have contributed and be a part of his musical journey. We did two sold out shows last week at New Yorks Blue note