The Color of Rain is a poetic statement. It is political, personal and, again and again, surprisingly light-footed. Aja Monet interweaves texts about love, war, freedom, feminism, social justice and memory with elements of jazz, soul, R&B and hip-hop. Her voice tends to hover through the pieces rather than dominate them. In this way, she succeeds in placing large themes in an almost weightless state, without taking away any of their urgency. On the contrary – precisely through this tenderness, they become accessible in a particular way.
A piece such as »working class musicians« shows how closely sound and language are interwoven on this album. Musical-like arrangements circle Monet’s voice, carrying and enveloping it. The result is a narrative sonic poetry that is both stage and poem. Again and again, rain returns as a central motif. It stands for growth, renewal and care, but also for grief, loss and uncertainty. The Color of Rain at times feels like the soundtrack to a film that was never made: fairy-tale-like and somnambulant, yet at the same time firmly anchored in reality. Here, both are allowed to exist alongside one another.
Together with artists such as Meshell Ndegeocello, Ambrose Akinmusire and Nico Segal, a dense, collective sonic fabric emerges. Strings, horns, percussion, gentle vocal arrangements and whispering flecks of sound interlock like the cogs of a finely tuned ensemble. The result is warm, powerful and communal. A musical togetherness that unfolds across 15 tracks in all its vitality.
The Color Of Rain
