Being aware of the rate at which Prince writes songs for albums that never see the light of day (let alone tunes for albums that do – since his 1978 debut, For You, he has released more than 30), it isn't at all surprising that four years after 20Ten, comes two records. Not only that, but two very distinct and different works that showcase the man's creative reach across music styles for which he is justifiably admired.
Released through Warner Bros (the label Prince acrimoniously severed contact with in the 1990s over ownership of master recordings – he now owns his masters, hence the repatriation), the albums aren't so different that we don't know who's behind them, but they do offer glimpses of the challenges artists experience when they want to deliver variations on themes that continue to evolve, however subtly. While a dramatic musical/stylistic reinvention for Prince probably isn't an option, re-evaluation most certainly is, and throughout Art Official Age and Plectrumelectrum there is plenty.
"You should never underestimate the power of a kiss on the neck when she doesn't expect" is the lyric clincher on Clouds, the second track on Art Official Age, a vaguely conceptual solo album that evenly blends signature (and some quite ordinary) funk tunes with a clutch of the best ballads Prince has written in many years. Of these, Breakdown is a stunner ("I used to throw a party every New Year's Eve, first one intoxicated, last one to leave; waking up in places that you would never believe; give me back the time, you can keep the memories"), closely followed by U Know, a start-stop-rewind soul beauty that fuses Prince's ever raised eyebrows with the kind of effortless lithe sensuality that may be stock-in-trade but which is never less than genuine.
Plectrumelectrum is a different beast altogether. Turbo-charged funk rock so urgent and fluid (think Parliament fronted by Jimi Hendrix) is something we haven't heard from Prince for some time, and in tow with female trio 3rdEyeGirl, he royally rips it up. The instrumental title track is amazing, a feast of guitar solo and bodice-tight arrangement. Whitecaps is a slow jam that seems to float in the air as it plays, while the feminist pop fuzz of Fixurlifeup and the self-explanatory closing track, Funknroll, wrap up the album in a vibrant blur of supreme quality control.
You wait four years for one Prince album and along comes two? Each of which have, substantially, more strengths than weaknesses? Lucky me, lucky you, lucky us. 3rdeyegirl.com
