Two songs I adore from an album I adore by an artist I adore 
It’s not my thing to use big words, but these are just exceptional.
Both from Maxwell’s second album – “Embrya” (1998) > “Drowndeep: Hula” and “Submerge: Til We Become The Sun“. Turn the lights off and feel. Breathtaking vocal range seemingly embracing you in a sensual elevation. Hot, vintage soul blended with the chilling, ambiental beats. Hypnotic falsettos. Fluid grooves. Sleek lyricism. Deep. Serene. Emotional. Mysterious. Spiritual. Lush. Versatile.
Some critics complained about the substance-less or chaotic lyrics and the overly extravagant concept behind “Embrya”. Titles and lyrics might indeed seem so, but exactly this music’s eccentric, eclectic, sophisticated nature is what magnetizes me completely. An artist’s guts to push his limits and to push listeners out of their comfort zone by introducing something opulent, that’ll surely not fit everyone’s tastes. That might also be the reason for Maxwell’s being underrated: he’s just not accessible to masses. Too deep to enter the mainstream, though highly acclaimed among soul, neo soul, R&B and quiet storm lovers. Instead, commercial garbage is usually getting the attention and when a tune like Maxwell’s emerges, critics try cut its potential by picking on lyrics, names or concepts. As for me, when I listen to music what comes first is its sound, not its lyrics. If I need something deep, I’ll open a philosophy anthology. Conversely, there’r loads of smart messages embedded in tracks I couldn’t call anything but noise. So when non-noise and especially complex non-noise is there to be enjoyed, I guess we should be thankful and praise those few true artists.
Actually these two tunes are nothing less than deep, but it takes a little while to feel’em. The maybe incoherent and incomplete message in these tracks’ lyrics is actually empowering the tunes, as it creates a state of exaltation, a serene and emotional trance. Here words and ideas are secondary and charm derives exactly from their being dispersed and unpolished. They’r letting the sound shine. Maxwell is just what I call true music. The kind that sets a vibration in your mind and soul, takes you by storm, coalesces unexplainable emotions, caresses your ears and thoughts, embraces you in warmth. Keeps the musicality in music, a feature long forgotten nowadays…
Maxwell – Submerge: Til We Become The Sun
Over to under
Enter your wonder baby
Submerge into me baby
And take me to higher
Submerge within the light
Illuminate my night
And let your atmosphere surround me
Submerge within the light all night
Till we become the sun
See if I’m breathing
Because I’m not sure
Tonight if I’m alive
Words are demeaning
They can’t describe
Submerge within the light
Til we become the sun
Maxwell- Drowndeep: Hula
Confusing as this is
I hope my kiss can rectify
The lack of part time bliss
A weightlessness inside
Your life, Your life, your life…
(Oohh waah) let’s drown deep in us
(Oohh waah) make no fight, no fuss
(Oohh waah) come drown deep in us
In us, in us, in us, in us…
I’ll wear your liquid kiss
And watch as if inside
Dispel the negative
As if a myth alive
Why should I let you go
How could I let you go
When we be up here all alone
Hula hula baby
(Oohh waah) let’s drown deep in us
(Oohh waah) make no fight, no fuss
(Oohh waah) come drown deep in us
In us, in us, in us, in us…
