Gushee

This is a fantastic debut by a broken beat power couple. ProF is notorious as half of turntable deconstructionists iNSIDEaMIND, whereas his partner, Vanese Smith, is better known as Pursuit Grooves, and received much acclaim for her Fox Trot Mannerisms release last year on Bristol's famed Tectonic label. As GuShee, they create abstract electronic soul, which is RIYL Flying Lotus and Georgia Anne Muldrow. In this combo, ProF's recent work has been more song- than turntable collage-oriented, and Smith's vocals are more upfront than they have been in much of her previous work. Here, her nuanced, soulful, cosmic singing is a continual highlight. The harmonized vocals of "The Way Up" are luxurious and grating at the same time, but its bumpy beat is captivating. "Monday Ride" features a double-time tempo and contains more imprecise, but compelling, syncopation. Even when songs seem more like sketches they are super-meditative and uplifting. This stacks up well against any e-soul-teric electronics in the world today.