Enigmatic Society

by Dinner Party

Overview

Only three months after the release of their 2020 Dinner Party LP, Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, 9th Wonder, and Kamasi Washington certified that the project of the same name would not be a one-time deal. They presented Dinner Party: Dessert with Herbie Hancock, Snoop Dogg, Bilal, Tarriona "Tank" Ball (sans Bangas), and many other associates in on fairly radical alternate versions of each Dinner Party cut. At the end of the year, Dinner Party were behind the title track of Martin's solo Village Days EP, and at some later point reconvened to make this follow-up. Enigmatic Society was synchronized with the unique quartet's appearance at Coachella 2023. It's another inviting exercise in concision that vaporizes genre distinctions between jazz, soul, and funk in a way that is ultimately hip-hop despite a total lack of MCs. Main Dinner Party vocalist Phoelix shares his role this time with Arin Ray and Ant Clemons. The three are on the same page with warmhearted expressions and intimate vocals that waft as peacefully as Martin and Washington's saxophones. The tone is set by Phoelix in "Answered Prayer," an atmospheric ballad built on Glasper's serene piano; he sounds like he's transmitting from the beyond as he sings of contentment and gratitude. "Secure," also without drums, takes to the sky with help from the elder Tank. Phoelix signs off with "Can't Go," his noncompliance echoed by the sampled voice of Daryl Hall stretched to a drawl. Further evidence that this is a crew of '80s babies is in the Sounwave co-production "Insane," a showcase for a resigned Ant Clemons that blows bubbles with Mtume's "Juicy Fruit." Ray takes the mike for the album's three most amiable songs, supporting an overwhelmed loved one on "Breathe," and on both the softly bobbing "For Granted" and misty "Love Love" testifying in simple terms without being trite. As on the self-titled session, there is some instrumental material. The calmly driving "Watts Renaissance" evokes persistence and communal support. "The Lower East Side," co-helmed by Trevor Lawrence, Jr., is dubbed-out funk with a grimace-inducing change at the two-minute mark. Enigmatic Society is neither as powerful nor as weighty as the debut, and certainly doesn't seem intended to match it in those regards. It's altogether a calmer, more romantic work. ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	08/04/2023
Label:	Empire / Sounds Of Crenshaw
UPC:	0197342124416
Rank:	29888

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Dinner Party   Primary Artist
Kamasi Washington   Primary Artist
9th Wonder   Primary Artist,Featured Artist
Robert Glasper   Primary Artist
Terrace Martin   Primary Artist
Tank   Featured Artist,Featured Artist
Arin Ray   Featured Artist
Phoelix   Featured Artist
Ant Clemons   Featured Artist

Technical Credits

Tony Cottrell   Composer
James Mtume   Composer
Robert Glasper   Composer,Producer
Sara Allen   Composer
Durrell Babbs   Composer
9th Wonder   Producer
Kamasi Washington   Composer
John Oates   Composer
Hi-Tek   Producer
Daryl Hall   Composer
Rick Carson   Mastering
Spencer Smith   A&R
Terrace Martin   Mixing,Composer,Producer
Patrick Douthit   Composer
Trevor Lawrence Jr.   Composer,Producer
Sounwave   Composer,Producer
Arin Ray   Composer
Bryan DiMaio   Mixing
Ant Clemons   Composer
Samantha Whitehead   A&R
Michael E. Neil   Composer
Deon Ford   A&R
Amani Washington   Artwork