Pleasing ear drums since 1998 as a back bone to Swedish hip-hop act Looptroop (now Looptroop Rockers), Embeehas travelled countries and genres with his group or as a solo artist for the last decade or so. While always associated with independent labels, his second solo album marks a point where his music has become entirely independent of genres. Having always diverted from the norm—his 90’s underground hip-hop releases never really sounded like 90’s underground hip-hop releases—The Mellow Turning Moment is probably Embee’s furthest venture from his musical starting point to date.

The opening ’Over the Rainbow Bridge’, the only track without a vocalist on the whole album, is a trademark Embee production reminiscent of his solo debut album Tellings from Solitaria from 2004. The song has a floating voice sample over a beautiful, melancholy track where a jazz piano and flutes are allowed to flow freely—but must also be chopped up in sections, all to the taste of a producer with his roots in hip-hop.

’Workable’, a logical second single to follow up ’One Day at a Time’ featuirng Daniel Lemma, has Swedish vocalist Nina Ramsby deliver a beautiful break-up over a jittery and electric beat blessed by a string section and, again, chopped up Kora-sounding instrument. Among the international guests is San, vocalist in Japanese electronica band The Antennasia, whose precious whisper of a voice has clear traces of Erykah Badu. Embee matches it with a minimally cool beat on ’Moonshine Bamboo’.

It’s an intense listening experience, and someone used to Embee’s solo work might find themselves in want of more instrumental songs to digest the vocal performances. Nonetheless, The Mellow Turning Moment is expectedly innovative and contains an impressive range of musical styles, all with Embee’s signature sound. And there is plenty of material for more singles.

words Sven Carlsson