fell in love with two women in 2002. Their Neo-Soul R&B sound leapt out of the speakers in the front room of Spin at me and I was hooked instantly. For a moment, I thought it was Les Nubians after several English lessons, but it wasn't. It was Floetry, and I became one of their fans in exactly four beats.
And many of you wonder why this column is called 'With you in 4/4'...
It was mesmerizing listening to Marsha 'The Songstress' Ambrosius wail while Natalie 'The Floacist' Stewart flowed through the song called 'Floetic'. Soon the track was burning up the airwaves and climbing the charts. The duo known as Floetry began their steady rise upward and outward into the United States and beyond.
Their powerful debut album 'Floetic' was nominated for six Grammy awards. They received six Soul Train awards. And throughout countless performances and the release of their second album 'Floacisim Live', they have shined as brightly as the day they debuted.
'Flo'Ology', their latest album released on Geffen Records, is another showcase of their extraordinary talents. But this isn't another 'Floetic' album. The themes are a bit more internal a bit less bruised than some of their previous work. If 'Floetic' was the struggling and lamenting side of Floetry, 'Flo'Ology' is a collection of stories that speak of growth from lessons learned. The heart that once hurt has become a bit wiser.
Maturing as both women and artists, Floetry still retains their fresh mix of vocals and spoken word against uncluttered arrangements. 'Flo'Ology' feels a bit down-tempo, but it's still full of energy. There are flowing songs from the heart like 'Feelings' and 'Let Me In', along with beautiful grooves like 'In Your Eyes' that match the Songstress and Floacist perfectly.
The balance of the two performers, and the balance of vocal against instruments are the things I first fell for. The music of Floetry, and especially 'Flo'Ology' is easy to listen to. They're two real people talking about real things in very real ways. No rocket science, no translation necessary.
There's no title track for the album, but the first song 'Blessed 2 Have' is in my spotlight for this album. It builds up gently with lots of flow and lots of soft vocals. The sounds are magical, and with lines like '...I wanna ignite the solar in your plexus...', it's beyond evident that Floetry has once again delivered a solid album. The perspective on life may be different this time, but their energy—pure and easy going—is still as radiant.
Tip of the week: Frankie Knuckles will be back at the House of Blues here in Chicago on Thanksgiving. He's a stellar DJ and the venue is fantastic for a dance party. It's the perfect way to work off some of that turkey and stuffing...
With you in 4/4,
Peter Mavrik
peter@windycitymediagroup.com