A buffet experience in music, the deluxe version of Marla Mase’ “Speak” gives you plenty to try, but never quite leaves you full. While it won’t leave you sick, it’s ultimately an experience you’ll deny seconds of.
Mase has more than potential. With a voice reminiscent of Blondie, compelling lyrics and a talented backing band (Tomás Doncker Band) behind her, success is a definite possibility. But the combination of sounds on “Speak,” isn’t quite there. Presenting a wide array of genres and styles for reggae and grunge to spoken word poetry, she tries a plethora of ways to attract you, but she never truly succeeds. More a sneak peek at potential than a fleshed out and cohesive album, “Speak” represents a cocoon-type experience for an artist that can be a butterfly one day.
Too many of the songs are experimental or resemble spoken word poetry. A performer and writer as well as a musician, Mase is undeniably charismatic, but not enough to captivate musically. It doesn’t help matters when she’s essentially roaring for 30 seconds of a track. There aren’t many times you hear her sing. When you do, it works. A clear example of this is “Piece of Peace,” easily the most attractive track on the album. Here, Mase is able to combine her signature witty word play with some emotional vocal work and a solid backing guitar and drum line. The backup singers on the track add another layer in what is ultimately a pretty rocking track. Had more of the songs followed this formula, this could have been a completely different album. This formula may be effective for a live performance, but on a CD, it doesn’t do her justice.
“Open Up My Heart” is another track that showcases Mase’s vocal work and double-entente-laced lyrics. The guitar and bass work in the album is sneaky and sexy and when combined with Mase’s storytelling ability, it works. Just when you get to the point where you’ve heard enough of Mase talking, she goes into a beautiful vocal segment that makes the track memorable. Again, this is part of the formula that Mase has to try to find on a more consistent basis.
Unfortunately this isn’t always the case. The experiment in reggae with “AnnaRexia,” misses the mark. Almost preachy with cookie-cutter Caribbean crooning accompanied, it feels like a weak attempt to get groovy, especially considering the lyrical content. Away from the reggae experiment, Mase focuses way too much on the spoken word aspect of her work. Her stories are fun, real and are relatable, but they aren’t always pleasing to the ear. A mishmash of rock and folk, they’re uber experimental. While that’s not necessarily a bad thing, they aren’t the type of tracks you’ll want to sing along to.
Armed with the right producer, Mase will work in the industry for as long as she wants. But until she does, she’ll be more of an experimental artist with untapped potential.
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