The first few seconds of the first song (Walk On By) had me paying close attention and wanting to experience the album from start to end. To be immersed and revisit it over and over again. To experience it in different settings and in different time spans. The first four minutes of "Walk On By" starts off as a multi-faceted layering. You hear every single instrument. They are not yet tied into one another in the beginning but as the song builds up, they do so incredibly. The different instruments slowly start to mix and gel together in a way that gives the listener a great impression in terms of what they can expect from the project. What it made me expect? A dynamic yet perfectly layered instrumental that takes you through an ocean of emotions and thoughts. I liked how towards the four minute mark, Isaac Hayes' vocals and those of his backup vocalists prepare you for a sonic climax with sharp and extravagant tides of the violins, bass and what sounds like cellos and clarinet(s). Followed shortly by the bass guitar and nostalgia inducing notes of the flutes right before you hear childlike vocals along with the backup vocalists, the climax is something worth anticipating. Once it hits, you get quite the experience. The song goes back to a more mellow mood from the 5:35 mark then gradually starts building up again at the 6:40 mark. From then on the drums, flutes, bass and all these string instruments come together to create this majestic, intense and dynamically immersive atmosphere. I started imagining a tumultuous, yet beautiful movie scene where a complicated character in a story finally gets his glorious ending. The next song is a great follow-up to the intense ending of "Walk On By". My first impression as the transition took place? "Great placement". The second impression is that it's more of a feel-good, up-beat and groovy track with a lot more bounce than sharp-ness, contrary to "Walk On By". I found myself wanting to move my body and just let go. It was easy to do so and I easily let the groove carry me. The melody and piano notes starting at the 5:01 mark and onwards are exceptional elements t =o add onto the instrumental - they elevated the dopamine fueled emotions that you get from the song. Just as you give in to the urge to get up and sway your body to the rhythm, Hayes' voices comes through to howl into the instrumental - that howl is exactly how the song is making the listening feel at that point. Just as you're moving and swaying and allowing yourself to get lost, the piano keys join you in dance and the bass gets bouncier...groovier. Amazing stuff! The third song, "One Woman", starts with a melancholic and comforting melody that immediately puts you in a relaxed headspace. Hayes' deep, velvety voice comes in to ease the listener into a different sonic energy. With the very first lyric, Hayes catches the listeners' attention with a reminiscent account of his day. Accompanied by string instruments and air instruments that create a sonic nostalgia, Hayes and his backup singers give the listener a warm and comforting experience. It is a very soulful song and it leans heavily into the Blues and Jazz influences. I absolutely love it! The last song, "By The Time I Get To Phoenix", takes all the elements that exist in the three previous songs - intense tides and climatic moments, sharpness, rounded and bouncy grooves at some point, narrating through lyrics, incredible vocal delivery, emotional stimulation, instrumental build-up etc., which all make the previous songs stand out uniquely from each other and it ties those elements together to form 18 minutes of oneirism for an immersed listener. The first half of the song induces a dissociation and you just can't help but feel your body gradually falling into Hayes' world as he speaks and tells you about his experience, feeling and thoughts. The second half induces a dream-like state. Highly intense but not too intense in the way that may lead the listener to think that it's not, in fact, the closing song. This is a masterpiece. It is truly magnificent.
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