Osunlade – Pyrography

The Distance - сertainly not a masterpiece.... but there is something in it

PYROGRAPHY sees Osunlade returning to the house which made his reputation, and from “I’m Happy,” you can hear the euphoria returning. “Walkin’ in Paris” continues this feel, before “Idiosyncracy” adds an electro element to accompany the dubby, organ-riddled groove. And even if the rap on “Trinity Ov Me” leaves a lot to be desired, the warm bass and Spanish/French/Portuguese spoken word of “Manowirdz” papers over that defect. “The Distance” is slightly more mechanical as it goes deeper, while “No Way” has a touch of dreamy Detroit techno flavor. “Ser Al Santisimo” leans heavily into the Latin percussion, with the lyrics floating above a voodoo rhythm, while the long “Pheramones” engages in some light tribal house, and “Yeku Yeku” adds some African elements before “A Day Without You” closes the album on a more romantic note. But the most memorable track, “Envision,” was a hit, earning a single release on the vaunted Innervisions label, and you can hear why immediately, from the deep toms to the angular melody and the staccato vocal delivery, emphasizing how fire this album is.