While WKM holds ties with the past, one listen through can tell you it is not interested in staying there. The project is full of wet sounding synth noises, ‘random’ modulated delays, and keyboard patches that could be used in sci-fi films. The production puts listeners in spaces that they may have never experiences before, with flowing textures and beats that evolve with every track. The first song and title track, What Kinda Music, showcases the collaboration’s possibilities. A heavy, retro sounding synth bassline finds its way in and out of the groove. The song is empty enough to leave space for percussive improvisation, letting the listener know these drum fills are not to be overlooked on the album. Tom’s vocals are heavily processed but sit so nicely among the chaos. As the track concludes, the melody transitions from synths to a string ensemble that finishes the song with a sense of cinematic importance, a perfect way to start an album.
The collab then proceeds to provide some very unique and powerful tracks. The few that were released as singles continue to shine as some of the better songs on the album. Nightrider, a track featuring esteemed rapper Freddie Gibbs, was released prior to the full LP. This song showcases how steady and smooth the album can get, and how even with instrumentation and depth like this can provide stable ground for an emcee to spit over. Lift Off, a jam originally released with a live session video, shows how jamming and improvisation can lead to an amazing product. The video is unique to most music videos, being live and raw while still sticking to a plan and aesthetic in mind.
The last two tracks showcase the complexity that can be achieved when these feats of musicianship collide. Julie Mangos, a track consisting of three very different parts that never repeat themselves, demonstrates the fluidity of their music. There doesn’t have to be a specific structure in the songs because, at this point in the album, the listener will have faith in the direction of the song. The album concludes with Storm Before the Calm, featuring saxophonist Kaidi Akinnibi, a piece of music that clearly illustrates a cinematic close of the project. The song begins with a constant melody and groove, until the saxophone starts soloing and the percussion section starts to collapse into a chaotic flurry of polyrhythms that fade into nothingness.
A product of collaboration, a showcase of pure talent, and a beginning to... something. What Kinda Music is evidence that jazz is not dead. It is evolving to a new sound in the hands of young musicians that have only just started defining the movement.
Owen Miller - AllMusic
