ALBUM REVIEW :: Hadiza. - "Shadow Weight"
Hadiza. - “Shadow Weight”
Self released by artist on November 22nd, 2019.
“Imagine yourself back in time to the era of beatnik nightclubs in smoky Parisian basements where the then-current social norms seemed to be left at the door. The woman singing is wearing a feathered boa, a dress covered in sequins, and has a lit cigarette in her hand while her voice floats over the dim candles and light conversation. “Shadow Weight” is the fur coat of local winter releases- appropriate for this recent dreary weather and a bottle, not just a glass, of red wine.
“Cousins” greets us with Hadiza.’s velvety, soulful voice which carries us through lyrics referencing mysticism and voodoo in a strangely comforting way. Halfway through, the beat picks up with a cheerful piano and stronger bass, as if the sun was beginning to show itself from behind a storm cloud. The gentle and airy vocals of “Narcissus” wraps us in a velvet blanket and offers a glass of chilled white wine to you, their good friend. Heavy bass, jazzy hi-hat, her rich sound and a subtle touch of a static act as a delicate mask covering up a story of heartbreak and abandonment.
Layered vocals and an incredible snare drumroll really sets “Abort” apart from the rest of the album with its more upbeat, yet cloudy tempo. The seven-second-long break brilliantly divides its two moods. what starts off as mournful turns into a vibe that’s almost hopeful. “Reactions!” has a complex sound that comes off as a mix of blues, soul and a slight beach-y feel which acts as a welcome mood break from the rest of the album. Its more present, yet light, guitar and uplifting piano are used to, again, cover up another tragic tale of someone who once claimed “to fall in love was to fall back into disillusion.”
The next song touches on the self doubt we’ve all experienced. Lyrics such as “I think I came with the wrong set of instructions” make “Lazy Eyes” a bit of a hard-hitter, but every once and awhile we all need that. Coming to terms with the final break up of an on-and-off-again relationship in the form of a letter, presumably unsent, “Dear…” has some of my favorite vocals of the album. Waves of reflection drift alongside the ever-present piano ending with the realization that “this is really real […] this is really me.”
Opening like a breeze carrying petals from blooming trees in the springtime, “Cotton” slowly moves back and forth between cadences with an inquisitive sounding piano. The wonderfully warm and ethereal, “Sleep Paralysis” is one of the more grand feeling pieces of “Shadow Weight”. Its orchestral feel and the background guitar towards the end really make this track brighter than the rest.
Continuing the consistently dramatic mood of this album, “Airport Funeral/BabylonDreams” is smooth and buttery like a glass of pinot noir, but quickly the latter part where the music becomes a choppy background to the still sleek vocals. “Elmina” is the cheerful reminder that even though it’s so cold now, spring is just around the corner. Hadiza.’s flowery vocals and jazzy bass guitar are uplifting give us a solid end to “Shadow Weight”.
This brilliantly named album is just what Kansas City (and the world really) needed to get through this winter. Hadiza.’s immaculate voice is warm like hot chocolate and inspires the same coziness you’d feel in front of a popping fireplace alone during a night of healthy reflection. Gratifyingly reminiscent of the by-gone era of blues and indoor smoking, “Shadow Weight” is a welcome shift from what we typically hear in town. Well done Hadiza.!”
Review by ::
Wayne Moots
Manor Teammate
Manor Records gives 100% of article author rights to Wayne Moots