The Uniphonics
Self-Released, 2020
9/10
The long running Iowa City outfit The Uniphonics return with a 3rd album, where their jam band approach to hip-hop spans several genres, ultimately ending up in a sound that few other artists would even attempt to replicate.
“The Struggle” starts the listen with relaxed grooves as saxophone, guitar and percussion all interact rhythmically as the vocals shift from singing to rapping, and “One Way To Know” follows with a spirited display of reggae, hip-hop and neo-soul influences as the band’s 2 newest members, Bethann Heidgerken and Nassor Cooper, show off their vocal prowess.
Further along, “Nothings Enough” recruits jazz sensibilities to the playful atmosphere, while “Iowa City Anthem” meshes some classic rock ideas into the indeed anthemic approach to their multifaceted skill. “Truly Yours”, one of the album’s standout tracks, then shifts into elegant and soaring territory with some of the best singing on the album.
Near the end, “Funky Farm”, with Robin Eubanks, certainly brings the funk in all sorts of impressive and infectious ways, and “We Got It” finishes the listen with no shortage of grooves or sing-alongs in the highly melodic exit.
A decade is a long time in between albums, but The Uniphonics make it worth the wait with their atypical meshing of sounds that glows with uncontainable energy and just begs to be heard live. A really unique effort, I wouldn’t sleep on this one if I were you.
Travels well with: Diplomats Of Solid Sound- A Higher Place; Andre Williams- I Wanna Go Back To Detroit City