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Review

Album Review: Skarra Mucci - Perfect Timing

09/30/2023

by Gardy Stein

Do you sometimes get the gut feeling that you should call someone, and that person tells you they've been thinking about you all day? That this is the right moment to leave a party or go out and then you meet someone you haven't seen in years? On these occasions, we get in touch with universal synchronicity, with "the flow", with… perfect timing.

Perfect Timing is the name of Skarra Mucci's new album, released in a joint venture by X-Ray Production and Undisputed Records. After the features-album The One Love Family (2018) and the celebrated L'Entourloup collaboration Golden Nugget (2019), this is indeed a good time to give the world some original Skarramuffin vibes, and the twelve tracks (plus the surprising acapella Gospel interlude Free Your Soul) not only showcase an artist at the height of his career but also reflect pressing global issues that have to be addressed.

On that note, Revolution, sitting on a driving beat by Patko (Conquering Lion Records), asks who will be made responsible when people finally rise up against "the state of the situation". Equally severe in tone, Mistry Babylon (a song recorded with the Rennes-based band Black Bandana) calls for liberation from mind control, 5G and AI, as "we are living in a revolution time…, in modern slavery, we call it technocracy". On a powerful steppas riddim by Evidence Music (can't wait to hear that one on a big soundsystem!), Who Fool Dem continues the serious conversation from a Rastafarian point of view, featuring Derrick Sound from Geneva.

Thus stepping into the features section, a brighter mood (which peaks in the comediesque Expensive Love, exquisitely draped over a riddim by Colombian producer Ditosin) is heralded by Street Dance. One of the first two single releases, it sees Skarra Mucci in full effect, riding one of those irresistible L'Entourloop productions which, in this case, combines Hip Hop, road movie soundtrack and Reggae skanks. Check the accompanying video by Florian Weigel! The subsequent single is out on video, too, a sun-drenched celebration of Roots Rock Reggae filmed in Marseille in which Skarra sings and dances alongside francophone singer Yaniss Odua, who originally hails from Martinique.

What A La La puts another islander in the spotlight: in this fun Manudigital remake of the 1990 original, Mucci is joined by veteran Johnny Osbourne, and together they bring on the heat, switching from the one's melodic singing to the other's trademark raggamuffin delivery. No Matta picks up on this sweet '90s vibe, bubbling keys and pumping bass and all, expressing the uniqueness of each single person and the immortal wish to be free. Boom! "Put your hand ina di air, every body pam pam!" While the thus introduced Rappa Pam Pam is a mix of Hip Hop and Dancehall, the track Dancehall, funny enough, nods towards big band and swing. Like the title track, it's been created by French band Dub Akom, consisting of Fabienne Romano (bass), David Sitbon (drums), Johann Martin (guitar) and Stephane Cavin (keys). Not only do they contribute to the quality of the album with their amazing instrumental skills, they'll accompany Skarra on his upcoming tour, too!

Turning to the opener of the album, we are initiated to all the goodness described above by the touching Here I Come. With an angelic vocal sample of Caleb Sweetback's 1975 vinyl release (chapeau to producer Mario García for this gem of a track!) and a short speech by Skarra Mucci himself, the song opens a conversation about the obstacles we have to overcome to reach Zion. "To all people upon this planet, I bring you love and happiness!" The title track, finally, reminds us that we should all work towards living in the moment more, going with the flow, seeing "the light that shines from within, who can purify you from sin, with all the love and joy that this whole world bring", in two words, to experience Perfect Timing.

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