Art Bleek - Art Supplies

Art Bleek – Art Supplies
(written for thelineofbestfit.com)




Released via Lougin’ Records, Art Supplies is a masterpiece in its own right in which French producer Arthur Pochon, aka Art Bleek, blends a mix of jazz, hip hop and soul to create thirteen (or twelve if you dismiss the intro) infectious, commendable tracks. Following his debut album in 2004, there are far more collaborative efforts with artists such as Ursula Rucker, Voice, Nya, Charlie Sputnik and Airelle Besson, providing variation for the listener and making the album pleasant to listen to in its entirety, all at once.

Luring you in with a phone call cleverly mentioning the name of each track through its conversation, you get the jist of the album’s mood and what’s to come. The introduction concludes with laughter and mention of a “party all night long”. Essentially this album acts as a welcoming ray of sunshine protruding from an obscured, bleak and desolate landscape and exudes a strong sense of old-school sex appeal. The order and titles of the tracks almost imitates a quest or a journey in initiating the act of sex. If this is the sort of thing you’re into, or something you find amusing (which if it doesn’t, then there’s probably something wrong with you), then Art Supplies is definitely something to at least have a look at.

Both ‘Rise’ and ‘Friends’ were two tracks that particularly stood out as being “finger lickin’ good”. ‘Friends’ is something to have playing when you’re getting ready to go out or when you come back from your night out, head spinning, ears ringing when all you really want to do is simply chill. This song is perfect for just that, as soft beats complement Mandel Turner soothing vocals and you know “everything will be alright”.
‘Rise’ is the last song on the album, and although the pace is gradual at the start, each “rise” is built upon and soloing trumpets create this sexy jazzy atmosphere as you look up into the sky, and feel a sense of hope “facing day to day challenges / and rise” thinking, fuck, my life is feeling pretty damn good at the moment.

Overall, this is one sexy album, and it’s recommended to dedicate some time to listen through it completely, so you can appreciate it fully – which is what it deserves. Each track complements the other, and it’s guaranteed the purchase of this album would not be regretted, unless you find yourself £1 short of buying some toilet roll at the end of the day and discover yourself listening to the album in order to escape the reality of shit stains imprinted on your sofa, bed and wherever else. Listening to the album should work – I hope…