Bridges

Chronique

Los Angeles' Kiefer Shackelford (aka Kiefer) first grabbed listeners with his 2017 debut Kickinit, and earned more with his 2018 sophomore album Happysad, both of which found him applying his UCLA-trained jazz keyboard chops to robust hip-hop and electronic-influenced originals. With his 2019 follow-up EP, Bridges, he further expands his approach, employing various analog synths along the way. The release also finds him moving somewhat away from the old improvisation-over-the-beats aesthetic with compositions that are much more richly attenuated. The change is noticeable from the start, as the opening "Journey," with its soft acoustic piano and subtle keyboard accents sounds pleasantly like a fuzzy bedroom recording finished in one take. More akin to Happysad is "Islands," a languid, Ramsey Lewis-esque groover that wouldn't sound out of place on '80s smooth jazz radio. The shimmeringly soulful "Orange Crayon" splits the difference with a funky groove punctuated by crystalline piano, electric guitar, and blown-out synth bass. Elsewhere, "Cute," and the Latin-inflected "Sunny" both evoke the chilled-out hooks of early-'80s Japanese jazz pop. And similarly evocative, the closing "Green Crayon," with its languid piano, fuzzy synth bass hook, and tropical beat, sounds like the underpinnings of an early Tribe Called Quest song. With Bridges, Kiefer has crafted a mini-album that feels even more sophisticated and organic than his previous releases, without losing any of the funky '80s crossover vibes that make him so distinctively compelling.
© Matt Collar /TiVo