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N*E*R*D | In Search Of...
Überproducers The Neptunes go it alone.
CD, Virgin
Tekst: Nathalie Claeys
Publicatiedatum: 17 september 2001
In search of N*E*R*D? What better place to look than on the internet, you might think. But you are mistaken. N*E*R*D are none other than the Neptunes, a production team consisting of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo that counts Timbaland as its closest rival. From Kelis to the Backstreet Boys, they have left their tracks on numerous other people's records before they introduced you to their own postmodern sonic melange. Where Timbaland uses vocals as an added bonus, N*E*R*D like to send out a message. See it as an updated 90s version of Marvin Gaye. The message in the opener 'Lapdance' might be of a political nature - equating poiticians with strippers - the songs introduce you to their rich sound. To merely define their sound as r&b would be an injustice. This is nasty hip-hop with a dirty rock-edge. AC/DC are rubbing shoulders with Nile Rodgers. Just check out 'Things Are Getting Better', with its heavy riff and vocal harmonies. 'Brain' is not only orgasmic in its heavy breathing and pounding bass, it also showcases their take on psychedelica. Part of N*E*R*D's message is clearly trying to take the listener to another level. In the soulful 'Provider' the protagonist is a dealer who feels he has only one way to bring in money. 'Truth Or Dare' is a pause - OK, a slight dip - with strings and Kelis, which lets you catch up before dragging you away to the next flurry of awesomeness. The Stevie Wonder-esque 'Run to the Sun' is lightweight, but in a good way. It is bright and floaty, pleading you to give it all up and never return to this earthly life. 'Stay Together' is the aftermath, the shock - what the fuck just happened? Life catches up with N*E*R*D, and they don't like it. They recover quickly. The sleazy 'Babydoll' hits you in the groin but is upstaged by the panting 'Tape You'. Both are loose and sexy, how porn should be. 'Am I High' takes you back to psychedelic la-la land and namechecks Kurt Cobain. Therein lies the lyrical proof that N*E*R*D don't eschew any genre, be it classic rock, grunge, or 60s pop. 'Rock Star Poser' with its biting harmonies lays it out on the table: Noone ever really dies. See, they aren't mere nerds, they are N*E*R*Ds with a positive message. 'Bobby James' with its mind-altering strings is the closer. Bobby is high on the drugs the Provider sold him. But now he wants more money, "'cause he is one hit away from being passed out." So what is the end result? Your ears ring. Your mind is somewhere up against the ceiling. Then you wake up to reality. The Neptunes might not yet be on the same level as their discoverer Teddy 'No Diggity' Riley, but they are close. Very close.
http://www.kindamuzik.net/recensie/n-e-r-d/in-search-of/1009/
Meer N*E*R*D op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/n-e-r-d
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