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
