Suffice's "Suffice - New Material 2016" Brings Fresh Sounds w/ Their Hip-Hop/Electro Funk Wave

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I have to give mad thanks to music & lifestyle blogger Dovile Mal -- if it wasn't for her email introducing me to the UK Hip Hop/Electro Funk quartet Suffice, I wouldn't have a band to listen to today that is unequivocally making music that stands alone. I wouldn't have a body of work that has me yelling thank god for live instrumentation. But luckily I do with Suffice - New Material 2016.

I love this project. For Suffice - New Material 2016 being only four tracks long it's some of the best genre-blending that I've heard in a long time, so I must commend them all before jumping into the music. Jack Ker on the mic a.k.a SufficeWords, Jonty Finn (drums, keyboards, Vocals), and the Harvey brothers Rory and Owen (bass, keys, guitar, percussion, samples) all killed it and y'all need to keep creating, no matter what. OK -- now that that's out of the way, let's dive into this music.

The first track, Side Thing, is an infectious opening song that grabbed my attention right away. The drums are lively. Jonty Finn plays with a certain bounce that brings so much movement to the track. His hi-hats and kick drum jump and it balances so well with the guitar and bass. The majority of the guitar on Side Thing is wavy, jumpy Nile Rodgers-like rhythm guitar that teeters in a disco lane and later sings its own part during a solo that brought a rock element that grooved with the funk on the track. The blatant plucks of the bass helped make the groove prominent and I loved it. It had a gorgeous sound and flow to it that was freeing. I got a feeling of freedom from dancing through the music. I had fun through their lovey-dovey vocals. That smooth verse from SufficeWords brought a take charge attitude to the song. It's a great sound that is refreshing to hear. And the rest of Suffice - New Material 2016 gets better and better with each track.

Suffice's second joint Kill the Night is a song I experienced in every bone in my body. Kill the Night is a song I need to experience at a music festival. Suffice expands its sound through the use of additional vocals alongside the main, making the overall sound of the track reach for the ears of the person way in the back. I listened to this song like they were singing past me in that sense. Kill the Night's atmosphere was a crowd. That guitar on KTN has the most habit-forming groove in each chord bend and sliding chord. Finn's drums and the synths blared with excitement and had a rhythm that I thought helped fit the song in a live electro-funk dance track space --  it was awesome. It again blended the genres that get blended yet again within the same track with the chipper celebratory keys, and overly thrilled rhyming that brings in the hip-hop. I loved every second of the song -- total feel-good music. Suffice captured the energy of that unforgettable moment in our lives and reintroduces that fun with the music. It's what music should be all about.

Suffice's final two songs on this project is where the party truly starts jumping, then they hit us with the wind down to a good night with their closing song, D.T.F. The third song, Vibe Like This, is everything fun about music and then some. Vibe Like This reminds me of Project X. The incredibly catchy hook is warm and electric like a beach party atmosphere. The whippy guitar has carefree plucks, the drums just want you to dance. The deep jounce of the bass underscores the coolness of Vibe Like This. It's a great example of how music can make you feel. And Suffice lets that coolness breath with D.T.F.

Suffice's closing track was the strongest crossing of electro-hip hop throughout the tape in my opinion, and the final product was without a doubt my favorite song. SufficeWords' verse had more attitude than he did on the previous songs. The drums sounded like there was a stronger, more prominent use of a full set. I heard an active hi-hat, a restricted crash cymbol, a radiating kick drum, and there was a satisfying paradiddle to close the song. It encompassed the beauty of live instrumentation. The guitar was sporadic and the synths were light, yet technologic. I was again able to feel a part of the music instead of simply listening to it. One of the Harvey brother's funky sound bite of a robot brought this cool intergalactic space station destination the music existed in that completely broke the track down, leaving it right on the dance floor. There's a lot going on, but it all meshes so well. Suffice - New Material 2016 was a lot to take in musically, but it was paramount that each song got its proper shine. Each song displays a great level of artistry that I pleasantly enjoyed. I wish and hope I'll be able to catch Suffice live one day. I won't fully hear the music until I do.

Listen to Suffice - New Material 2016 below. Enjoy.

Photo Creds: soundcloud.com
           

             

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