Double J Pick of the Week: Esperanza Spalding

Esperanza Spalding
Earth To Heaven

There are so many reference points that come to mind when you listen to Earth To Heaven from Esperanza Spalding’s latest album Emily’s D+Evolution.

The most obvious is Janelle Monae, who Spalding joined on the great Dorothy Dandridge Eyes from Monae’s latest record. Both artists have the soulful, afrofuturist sound down pat and neither of them is afraid to push it into places few artists would ever dream of.

But then there’s the prog element of her sound that calls to mind old white guys with tufts of curly grey hair wearing their instruments too high (you know the ones). The rough edges, dark sounds and ridiculously complex musicality that can often be very polarising.

Spalding is a seriously talented musician. Her skills as a bassist are well documented, but here it’s the warped arrangement that’s like an evil, heavy version of Yes. Or a slightly less deranged, but equally inventive Beefheart.

Of course, as is the case with all great artists, you can recall a thousand reference points, but none of them quite nail it. Esperanza Spalding is a brilliant individual talent and there’s no one like her around right now.