THEESatisfaction – EarthEE (Sub Pop; 2015)
With tracks like “Planet For Sale,” “No GMO” and “Post Black, Anyway,” it is clear that the genre-bending Seattle-based duo, THEESatisfaction, have strong opinions on the current state of affairs on their sophomore record, EarthEE.
As queer black women, rapper Stasia “Stas” Irons and vocalist Catherine “Cat” Harris-White, strive to challenge the listener with concepts of interconnectivity, feminism, race and politics.
The album blends neo-soul, jazz rap and hip-hop, with a jangly intergalactic haze of synths and airy vocals. The spot-on collaborations with Shabazz Palaces and Meshell Ndegeocello add a familiar touch to the afro-futurist psychedelic beats and spoken-word poetry style flow throughout.
What makes EarthEE so exceptional is that it manages to transcend the narcissistic tendency of hip-hop and overall cynical trend in mainstream music with its challenging political-minded content, undeniable positivity and originality.
Trial Track: “Sir Come Navigate (feat. Tendai Maraire)”
Rating: 8/10
-Paul Traunero