Let’s start thematically. We’ll focus on a universal sense of pain, something that highlights the true extent of human fragility. So, where do we look? Well, take it back to 41 B.C and think Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and then move it forward just a little bit to 12th century France and think Heloise and Abelard. What’s the common denominator between both of the above? Heartbreak, of course. Now, factor in a virtuoso bassist with a rich tapestry of jazz-funk behind him and there you have it: ‘Them Changes’, the latest single from Thundercat.
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Powered by a somewhat unyielding bass riff, the track works as a union between 70s funk, old skool R&B and nu groove. Vocally, Bruner’s phrases appear skittish – the desparation, it would seem, is well and truly real for the tenor (“Now I’m sitting here with a black hole in my chest / A heartless, broken mess”). With keys provided by Flying Lotus and sax by Kamasi Washington, the track bounces steadily – pausing only briefly to create a lucid state at 1:15 before slipping back seamlessly into the initial groove.
It’s lively yet tragic all the same, showcasing not only Thundercat’s raw musical talent but also exposing his natural genius and sensitivity. Living as a half-secret mastermind, Bruner has finally fully emerged out of the shadows, and the result couldn’t have been much better.
Words by Georgie King
@whosGeorgie