G&D; - "The Message Uni Versa"

G&D - One (Look 2007)

G&D – The Message Uni Versa / Look

“I was sent by the divine forces of the universe to bring a message of funk and light to the good people of planet Earth!”

Last time we met with our heroes, singer/producer Georgia Anne Muldrow and oddball crooner Dudley Perkins, they were united by the production techniques of DJ 2Tall on Beautiful Mindz. It was a decent record with a few memorable moments, but for the most part, it was less of an inspired affair as much as a showcase for the individual talents of the artists involved. Dudley would drop a fun, goofy verse on one song, then Georgia would momentarily perk your ears a few tracks later, but there was rarely a substantial period when both immensely creative individuals sounded as a cohesive awe-inspiring unit. We know these artists have talent, check Perkins’s Expressions (2012 A.U.) or Muldrow’s Worthnothings EP/Olesi: Fragments of an Earth (all three released by Stones Throw), and their collaboration on “T. Biggums” from Oh No’s Exodus into Unheard Rhythms showed that together they may be an even stronger force. Can these two creative minds flesh out an entire album’s worth of attentive material though? Their debut as a duo, The Message Uni Versa, leans heartily towards yes.

“I’m learning the fine art of singing from the heart.”

Existing somewhere between the groovy sociopolitical soul of Funkadelic, the left-field hip-hop concoctions of Madlib, the synth-driven bounce of the Dungeon Family and the neo-soul confidence of Erykah Badu, G&D are purveying a sound though easily traced from its influences, stands pretty far left of the rest of the playing field. It is much hipper than what the neo-soul tag implies these days, way too quirky to be straight-ahead R&B, not syncopated enough vocally to be called rap and maybe too modern and structured to be considered psychedelic soul. It certainly contains fragments of each of these stylistic descriptions, but pieced together into a Frankenstein of oddball soul-funk. Muldrow’s beats and production pair the current L.A. space-hop vibe with Atlanta’s Organized Noize sound circa 1998. Chunky bass lines counteracted by sweeping, circling synths drive each song, and patient, uncomplicated drum patterns provide a mellow pace that give the pair ample space to vocally improvise over.

“Drink funk juice instead, good for your head and better for your health. Take that ice off before you melt yourself.”

As with every release so far by both the pair together and individually, the lyrical message is one of peace and love; the same hippie-soul vibe pioneered by George Clinton and Sly Stone in the late 60s. The Message Uni Versa is almost exclusively about these ideals, though less cushy love as much as peaceful living in harmony love. It bends from the more political stance, “War Drums” and “Good Mornin Amerikkka”, to pleas to have open minds, “Time”. Perkins sing-song-raps with his now patented warble that marries Cody ChesnuTT, Bootsy Collins and O.D.B., and Muldrow coos with earthy, Simone-derived serenity à la Badu, Timobe Lockhart or even Lauryn Hill. When matched together, the duo produces a sound that is completely idiosyncratic. It’s infectious, goofy and soulful at the same time.

“In the great inspiring of words of Pastor I. from Oregon: Bush! I got my eye on you, you demon!”

A bit top-heavy, the strongest tracks come early on in the album. “One” bounces on a Coup-like beat with each vocalist taking turns crooning near-improvised lines of finding unison by getting everyone to ride the same rhythm. The chorus excels by Muldrow accentuating urgently beneath Perkins’s more laid-back calls. “Time” is a bit more nocturnal and groovy, and perhaps the most accessible song of the disc. There are less off-the-cuff verses and more refined vocal interplay. It works very well and displays a more matured collaboration, but I believe a full album of it wouldn’t be as endearing without the jovial goofiness that keeps everything lighthearted. I am also quite partial to the pseudo-song “The Stomp”. With an excellent underlying synth groove lying somewhere between Madlib’s Yesterday New Quintet and Marvin Gaye’s soundtrack to Trouble Man, there is no narrative, but instead snippets of hilarious party conversation. It may supposed to be more of a transitional piece, but it turns out to be one of my favorite tracks.

“It’s fonk with an O, through your stereo.”

The Message Uni Versa is an album displaying two similar-minded artists reaching their potential by bouncing musical ideas off each other. They are perfectly sufficient individually, but truth be told, their styles can be a bit tolling over a complete solo album. As G&D, their left-of-center styles balance each other out for a bit smoother audio swallow. With forty minutes of fun and utopian ideals, The Message Uni Versa is a worthwhile and refreshing listen. Muldrow and Perkins are as an idiosyncratic pair as they come, and an essential push for the neo-soul and left-field hip-hop genres.

Georgia: “Oh come now, that’s rubbish. For you are a warrior and warriors do not sing.”
Dudley: “It’s a new thing my lady, it’s a newwww thinggggg!”
Georgia: “But what about all the critics my lord?”
Dudley: “Critics? The hell with the criticssssss!”
Both: “La la la la laaaaaa”