Though in need of cultivation, Fearless Movement illustrates Kamasi Washington’s strong desire to experiment and question his sound.

Kamasi Washington makes a courageous return with his third album Fearless Movement. Bestowing new intentions beneath a current of powerful jazz, we are left mourning space to process his newfound attitude.  

‘The Epic’ was a defining debut release for Washington, descending us in to a world of cascading keys and scintillating sax; the album was an establishing release for the artist. Later returning with another defining, experimental album (‘Heaven and Earth’) listeners were beautifully submersed in to a dream-like realm. What made those albums so momentous was their ability to remove listeners from reality, yet in Fearless Movement we are left with our feet firmly on the ground.  

Opening track‘Lesanu’ leaves very little breathing space for the listener, consistently filling the space with sound upon sound, it becomes difficult to revel in the music and soak up the bass line. This soon becomes a common occurrence, particularly in the first half of the album- as listeners it’s hard to know what to tune in to. 

This state of confusion continues in to ‘Asha the first’ and ‘Get Lit,’ finding ourselves confronted by the inimical words of rappers D smoke and Ras and Taj Austin. Previously working with Kendrick Lamar on ‘To Pimp a Butterfly,’ it feels that Washington has tried to emulate Lamar’s style through his own work, though many bars sound contrived. Lacking in authenticity and purity, the sampling of George Clinton in ‘Get Lit’ also proves to be a rather fruitless affair. 

‘Dream State’ however manifests a welcome pause in time; gifting listeners with the freedom to float and disconnect. Featuring Andre 3000 on flute, space is created for listeners to revel in Washington’s alluring saxophone. As a beat emerges the track progresses naturally, as if intuition has taken over; colourising our imagination and reigniting curiosity. 

This meditative sound progresses to transcend in to a sexy, hypnotic groove on ‘Together;’ presenting bewitching vocals against a backdrop of rich, delectable jazz. Contributing to the overpowering strength of the album’s second half, a sense of refinement and understanding finally surfaces.

Though in need of cultivation, Fearless Movement illustrates Kamasi Washington’s strong desire to experiment and question his sound. Exciting and exploratory, the album’s unwavering potential cannot be denied.