Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Review: Bashiri Asad, 'The Space Between'
Posted by Kyle Long on Wed, Feb 8, 2012 at 3:00 PM
Bashiri Asad has paid his dues in Indianapolis. Over the past few years the singer has been a regular fixture in clubs across the city, as both a solo artist and as lead vocalist for Xenobia Green. No stage has been too big or small for the singer. You might catch Asad playing an intimate gig at the Chatterbox, or spot him opening for Musiq Soulchild at the Vogue.
Either way, it's Asad's ability to maintain a consistent level of excellence in all projects, combined with his devotion to classic R&B sounds, that have earned him a position as one of the preeminent voices of soul music in Indy.
Asad's latest work, an independently released six-track EP, finds the singer in peak form. While I wasn't totally captivated by every song here, the high points are substantial enough to earn this EP a big recommendation.
"In the Air" starts things off on an interesting note. The spoken-word track finds poet Tasha Jones rhyming over a vocal chorus from Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight." "Loving You" recalls the classic Spinners hit "Could It Be I'm Falling In Love," while adding on a cascading gamelan-like gong riff.
EP closer "The Space Between" is the clear standout here and it's Asad's most fully realized work yet. Everything comes together in this tender love song, the songwriting, the production and Asad's confident, mature vocal performance. It's not hard to imagine this song making major waves in the neo-soul scene.
Below: Asad's video for "The Space Between"
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