Alt Soul (label)
01 November 2019 (released)
30 September 2019
It is not easy to know how to approach this album.
On the one hand it is an album of superb and subtle soul/funk but on the other hand it is an album about sex and where most artists would concentrate on the physical and emotional side of couples issues, Terry drives at the more visceral and direct area of ‘relations’ or lack of them.
The musical side of the album is well catered for by Terry and Raphael Mann plus a host of additional musicians.
It is largely soul/funk but there are elements of folk and jazz plus some superb psychedelic touches throughout.
Mann’s bass playing is superb and the two cover off a wide range of keyboard instruments. Tom Rodwell’s psycho guitar playing on ‘Ask Her’ is exceptional.
On the subject matter side of the equation we are in a place that is at first uncomfortable but as you listen to the album you begin to get what the album is about.
This isn’t a snigger-fest or a series of double entendres – Terry is covering subjects that are probably shared by every male at one point in their life or another.
There are political and gender issues in everything to do with sex and on songs such as ‘Can’t Get No Pussy’ (dealing with laws around oral sex in many US States) or ‘Casual Sex’ – a collaboration with the artist & poet Stew discussing their experiences in Europe as young men.
Where most modern R&B seems to be only interested in the act or getting of sex this album has more complex issues to consider.
I wasn’t sure what to expect from ‘Sex Madness’ but in the end it is a superb musical piece and the subject matter stirs thought – what more could you want.
