The hype and buzz surrounding Domi & JD Beck's debut album long before its release should be quickly forgotten. Nor should we dwell too long on the almost 'too perfect' five-star cast of guests (Thundercat, Anderson .Paak, Mac DeMarco, Herbie Hancock, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Kurt Rosenwinkel). Because Domitille Degalle and James Denis Beck are not just two young prodigies... with Domi on keyboards, James on drums, these names will not have been forgotten by the end of 2022. The music that the Frenchwoman and the Texan sculpt throughout Not Tight (published both on Blue Note and on Apeshit, Anderson Paak's new label) is unlike any other. 70's jazz-fusion and the light funk that they amalgamate are at the heart of their universe, but they also feed on a thousand other sounds, from drum'n'bass to J Dilla beats, some classical punctuations here and some soul, pop, hip-hop or smooth jazz diversions there.
Between the hysteria of JD Beck's syncopated rhythms and the fluidity of Domi's melodies, it is in the uniqueness of their musical collages that the duo imposes their difference. The variations between the totally frenetic improvised instrumental sequences (Sniff or the title Not Tight), the mellow interludes (Duke) or the ugly and groovy soul'n'rap nuggets (Pilot with Snoop, Busta and Anderson Paak) can sometimes be confusing. But these changes of scenery don't prevent you from savouring this first Qobuzissime album in one go, as if you were listening to a very personal playlist. A 360° trip where everything is possible and where the heritage of the past is a powerful fuel and not a framework to be religiously respected. A real revelation! © Marc Zisman/Qobuz