SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DOMI & JD BECK – WHO ASKED?

DOMI & JD BECK
WHO ASKED?
BLUE NOTE RECORDS

From going viral over their cover of the late rapper MF DOOM’s “ALL CAPS” to their incredible 2022 debut album NOT TiGHT. French American jazz duo DOMi Louna and JD Beck have released their sophomore record, Who Asked?, never misses a beat and never shies away from thought-provoking curiosity.

Who Asked? kicks off with “ÉPiPHANiE” as it opens to a beautiful crescendo of whimsical flair of a trippy fantasy galloping into elegance and grace. “HAD ENOUGH” stands out as it shifts tonally from fantasy to a grounded self-reflection track backed by Beck’s steady vocals and rhythmic drumming and Louna’s luscious vocals ending with a fast-paced electro-jazz fusion.

“SiLHOUETTE” sees Beck and Louna’s vocals in perfect harmony as they explore manifestation backed by various whimsical instrumentations. “PHANTHOM THREAD” may be a reference to the same Paul Thomas Anderson film, but the track evokes a metaphor of sparking curiosity from a creative’s perspective featuring Beck and Louna’s vocals and a variety of instruments on an epic journey.

“LOVELY MASQUERADE” sets up the drums as the lyrics paints a picture of a person wearing a mask hiding a façade of everyday life.

“ĖPILOGUE” is the final four-min track on the record as it begins like a play. The opening act starts with the strings and pianos in perfect synch like a dance. It may fall into part musical and part comedy as you never know where it goes but it will keep you guessing and the heart starts pounding ending on a big orchestral finish.

The eclectic jazz duo DOMi & JD BECK dropped their debut record four years back and have retained their signature style of frenetic and energetic jazz fusion while embracing mature themes of everyday life and philosophies. Who Asked? comes highly recommended for jazz aficionados and for casual listeners who crave a little zest on their playlist.

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