The Musical Spirituality of Abimaro & The Free’s ‘So I’ll Boast’
With just one live EP under their belts with So I’ll Boast, Abimaro & The Free have masterfully created a musical balance that is both fearlessly Christian and accessible. Even in dropping the Jesus bomb on the opener, Carry Me, lead vocalist Abimaro seems more focused on her conversation with God than the audience around her. With Carry Me’s soothing background vocals and foot stomping beats, it’s clear that the inventive musicianship of Abimaro & The Free gives them access to enlighten people’s minds and hearts. The dub-jazz hybrid Falling Leaves has Abimaro showcasing rich, metaphorical lyrics that explain her desire to transcend the past. On Pinnochio, Abimaro has the sultry delivery of a romantic song while passionately asking God to “hold her strings”. It’s as if Abimaro & The Free took a Quiet Storm hit and replaced it with Christian lyrics. This South London group lets their musical ambitions become a launching pad for expressing their spirituality. On my personal favorite, Twenty One, Abimaro holds a songwriting clinic. Using somber folk instrumentation, Abimaro tells the painful stories of eager and even reckless twenty one year olds. It’s biographical accounts are reminiscent of Amel Larrieux’s sympathetic chronicles in Infininte Possibilities. The title track, So I’ll Boast, is a perfect closing to a short, yet far-reaching EP. The melodic piano riffs and wishful chorus oozes in optimism. But instead of a happy, go-lucky ending, So I’ll Boast becomes a raucous, pulsating rock song where Abimaro learns to boast in God’s strength and not her own.
Vocalist Abimaro Suit, bassist James Beatt, and pianist Alex Montaque have a huge responsibility that they are carrying with ease. With the unique stylish flair of So I’ll Boast, Abimaro & The Free have successfully shared the unpopular struggles of the Christian faith while vividly painting a picture of God’s true heart. Website Twitter Facebook
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