Aja Monet – When The Poems Do What They Do 2LP

Aja Monet – When The Poems Do What They Do

They are a foundation to which all things are drawn, about which they reflect and towards which they align themselves. Her work constantly moves between origin and outcome, allowing them to merge. In her debut album, when the poems do what they do, we see her relentless commitment to speaking. "In when the poems do what they do", Aja Monet appears as a woman of letters and storms, her poems roar not in the pentameter - but in the storm surge, because: "Who has time for poems when the world is burning?" And this work is not one that can be broken down into one-liners, these are poems about things that are felt. 

Aja Monet's poems are a work of gravity. They are a foundation to which all things are drawn, about which they reflect and to which they align themselves. Her work constantly moves between origin and outcome, allowing them to merge. In their debut album, when the poems do what they do, we see their tireless commitment to speak. 

The thematic origins of this album at times revolve around black resistance, love and the inexhaustible search for joy. In When the poems do what they do, Aja Monet appears as a woman of letters and storms, her poems roar not in the pentameter - but in the storm surge, because: "Who has time for poems when the world is on fire?" And this work is not one that can be broken down into one-liners, these are poems of felt things. There is a richness here that cannot even be contained by the limits of language. aja monet is a griot, a storyteller, a chronicler and your grandmother telling you about her first love, all at once. These are poems about having children - literally spring unfolding in the cherry trees. 

They are poems of urgency and longing and the call to destroy the insidious systems that seem to make up our future, in other words, "If we had a sense of humor, we'd be more radical. More migrant than citizen, we'd breathe clean air and ration our resources - we'd melt down all the guns." You will find yourself taking up arms in the face of these poems while mourning the inexorable loss of names already destined to be immortalized. 

Aja Monet creates a body of work, as she always does, into which you can enter through many doors. These are not poems for poets, but poems for everyone. She is supported on this album by the musicians Christian Scott (trumpet), Samora Pinderhughes (piano), Elena Pinderhughes (flute), Luques Curtis (bass), Weedie Braimah (djembe) and Marcus Gilmore (drums). Together they create music that is haunting and relentless. There are songs reminiscent of jazz club virtuosity and melee, others of a healing balm in Gilead, and the chords of "Castaway" move like the call to intercessory prayer.

Tracklist:
LP1:
1. I Am
2. Why My Love
3. Black Joy
4. Unhurt
5. Weathering
6. The Perfect Storm
7. The Devil You Know

LP2:
1. What Makes You Feel Loved?
2. For Sonia
3. Yemaya
4. Castaway
5. Give Thanks
6. For the Kids Who Live

Label: Drink Sum Wtr
Released: 2023