The Floacist - Floacist Presents: Floetry Rebirth

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    Although hopes were dashed and spirits were crushed when the women of Floetry parted ways in 2007, the couplets-creating part of the duo, Natalie “Floacist” Stewart, forged ahead with her mission to continue dropping melodies on the masses with soliloquy and song. The success of her 2010 debut, Floetic Soul, demonstrated more than friends in high places and flair for rhymes; it reminded fans that that the Floetry partnership was one of equal talent and musicianship, and that The Floacist had plenty to say, a feat she repeats with her scintillating sophomore follow-up, Floacist Presents: Floetry Rebirth.

    Although hopes were dashed and spirits were crushed when the women of Floetry parted ways in 2007, the couplets-creating part of the duo, Natalie “Floacist” Stewart, forged ahead with her mission to continue dropping melodies on the masses with soliloquy and song. The success of her 2010 debut, Floetic Soul, demonstrated more than friends in high places and flair for rhymes; it reminded fans that that the Floetry partnership was one of equal talent and musicianship, and that The Floacist had plenty to say, a feat she repeats with her scintillating sophomore follow-up, Floacist Presents: Floetry Rebirth.

    It may or may not have been intentional, but the ten selections on Rebirth lend themselves to different levels of self-discovery, changing relationships (deepening, distancing) and getting back to the beginnings….a re-awakening, if you will. She’s just as intimate and introspective as before, whether she’s challenging herself to let go of clutter, materialism and toxicity ( the saucy “Step Out”), brimming with optimism and awareness on the Raheem DeVaughn-featuring  “Start Again”  or bidding farewell to Marsha Ambrosius a partner as they diverge from a mutual path and pursue opposite agendas on the ‘keep-it-real-and-make-it-plain’ up-tempo, “Soul,” which The Floacist delivers with resolve instead of rancor. And that approach makes its impact all the more profound: “Never saw myself rollin’ without you Friend, now you wanna go out on your own/Where you wanna be is not for me, you’ll have to go alone/Cuz’ my father said (just can’t sell my soul), my mother said (just can’t sell my soul), and my brother said…..”

    There aren’t as many guest appearances on Rebirth, but that doesn’t subtract from the plush production quality, the luxuriousness of The Floacist’s vocals (a gentle, cooling cadence with a dash of her UK roots) and the warmth and wisdom she pours into the ears and minds: “Slow Down” is a much-needed mantra in the era of instant info and speedy social media; “Could It Be You” opens with scribbling in a journal about goals for the day, yet drifts into the discovery of a newfound love; and “Say Yes (10 Year Anniversary)” isn’t as overtly sexual as the hit Floetry version, but there is a spellbinding quality as The Floacists’s vocals drift over high-hat cymbals so sensually that incense and rose petals will practically pour out of the speakers when it’s played: “Yes…loving you has taken time, but I always…I always knew you would be mine/and I recognize the butterflies inside me, since it’s gonna be late tonight, and all you gotta do is say yessssssssss….”

    It’s a rare release that can meet the listeners wherever they happen to be and take them wherever they may want to go, and that’s what keeps The Floacist so compelling as a performer and poetess. From outright seduction (“This Love”) and carnality (“Speechless”) to homage to the Motherland (“Roots of Love”) or praise to the Most High for simply drawing breath on planet Earth while beholding His/Her Creations (“Children of the Sun”), Rebirth will soothe and regale as much as it moves the heads and hearts of those with the patience to listen.  Organic, hypnotic, and one of the most edutaining CDs of 2012, with Rebirth Mama Natalie should be quite proud of this lovely addition to her growing family of hits. Highly Recommended.

    By Melody Charles