WHAT’S HOT!
THE PRAYER DRONE
B. SLADE
By Kevin E. Taylor
B. Slade is a sanger and a showman, a shaman of soul and sound and lists himself as an “Imagineer that has released 30 albums in less than 12 years. A Prophetic Visionary with no boundaries musically spiritually or vocally. The future is now. Come aboard.” This is his bio for page on Bandcamp.com, where he offers his music to the world on a platform that SUGGESTS the costs, but allows the lover of the artist, the music or the platform to purchase it for more.
B.Slade has, in his career, romped and stomped through the church and the choir in his journey through music, be it gospel, soul, rhythm & blues, dance or music without barriers. But for his newest project–THE PRAYER DRONE— he goes to a place of peace.
At immediate listening, THE PRAYER DRONE is a mood. It is melodic and hypnotic, soothing and has the capacity to make you be still. Songs like “Show Me Yourself,” “ Trust Him In Tokyo,” (as in I can trust God anywhere in the world), “Satisfied,” which has the unction and compunction to say I WON’T BE SATISFIED WITH SETTLING! And “Doubtin’ Thomas,” a track that’s trap meets triumphant, with the hook:
“Why should I doubt Him?
And how much more does Jesus have to do
To prove to you that he’s gonna bring you out
And how much more does Jesus have to do
To prove to you that he’s gonna work it out”
The first song–“Soul Says Yes”–is a prayerful meditation that feels like not simply releasing, but making room for more. It feels hopeful, like a first dance with a new love and because there’s no fear, the YES is real and not tentative.
THE PRAYER DRONE is an assemblage of 18 tracks and interludes that cover contemporary R&B with melodic soul and some holy hip-hoppery. And THE VOCALS, as always, are sinewy and sincere, soft and surrendering and at times, full roaring expression! In other words, they are pure B.SLADE! The album feels like a drive along the coast or through the park or even the project that you listen to on the way to work, ensuring that the traffic and the schedule ahead don’t mess with your head before you even begin your day. It is release. It feels like sanctuary and the kind of album that you can play at a gathering of friends or with people of faith that forces you to listen and feel and in the feelings, feel them all.
And a curious note about B. Slade, THE PRAYER DRONE: the interlude is a confession and a comfort that speaks to being an adult orphan and a grown creative and a growing creation. “When your mother and your father ‘forsake’ you, or leave you,” he pours out how prayer and meditation are filling him up again and taking him higher. It is interesting in all the right ways that it does open the album, but is there towards the end, waiting for you to find his explanation, while having had your own experience. Find it for yourself. THE PRAYER DRONE is about elevated heights and seeing it from God’s perspective. This is powerful. I love that he didn’t open it but opened us up first and then poured this out.
The songs “Real With U” and “Real With U2” don’t happen together and they are out of order, with U2 coming first. They are both powerful but “Real With U” is simply GORGEOUS! There are some vocals on this song that are so effervescent, so delicious that they feel healing and closeness, like safety and vulnerability birthed a blessing that will draw tears but will cause tears in the fake fabric that we use sometimes as covering and cloak. “I wanna be real, not just on Sunday. God I wanna be real on Monday too.” And “Wrapped Up” is a jazzy, soulful offering that harkens back to your grandmother’s church AND your night at the Jazz Explosion where worship went up like lightning and fell down like soft rain. And Mike Burton is featured on sax.
The close of the project are “Presumptuous” (the interlude) and “My Heart Still Belongs To Him.” The pair are a crescendo that is so close to angelic that it will make you drift and drunk in the spirit of its lushness and its luscious lyrics and billowing beauty that includes these words: “You are my oxygen, so every breath I take it’s like you’re standing next to me, and then you’re gone again. I fell down so baby I dust myself off and try again. I can’t forget what happened when I followed Him. The truth is that I’d follow Him again If He’d just asked me to. My heart belongs to Him.”
Support this Minister of Music and Maestro of Song and download THE PRAYER DRONE
@ BSLADENOW.COM
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ESSENCE INTERNATIONAL COURT
L to R:
Deshawn Trulove (Mr Essence 23)- Alabama
Jinesys Sinclare (Miss Essence 23) - Tennessee
Hedi T. Iman (Miss Essence 24) Texas
Onyx (Mr Essence 24) Texas
Tiffany Mcknight Capri Miss Essence Plus 24 (Texas)
Beyoncia Black Miss Essence Plus 23 ( Louisiana)
Jassmyne Darnell Miss Essence Classic(Georgia)
