Iba Mahr – Fully Advanced – Review

August 17, 2020

Iba Mahr: Fully Advanced Single Review by Mr Topple for Pauzeradio.com.

Conscious artist Iba Mahr has returned with another new track – following quickly on from his July cut Smart and Brave. Those two words sum him up well – as this latest song is both in droves.

Iba Mahr Fully Advanced, distributed by 21st Hapilos, sees Mahr team up with the talents at One Time Music and Island Wav (here, its co-founder RiddimBoss) – the team that brought us Kabaka Pyramid’s Babylon Fallin. The track treads a different path completely to Smart and Brave’s Roots and Dub-led flavours. Here, the production is glossy, slick and overly Afrobeats-led; albeit with a delicate and light touch.

It opens with a softly arranged balafon, a key feature throughout the track. Its arrangement is interesting, as it works off two lines. One serves a background role, running a rhythmically dotted and melodically diatonic arrangement. But its engineering is key: reverbed and heavily compressed, to make it aurally almost out of earshot. There’s then a second balafon line, which works off semiquaver-led rhythms but whose sound has been engineered further to the fore (with an increase in high-passing), serving as a responsive counterpoint to Mahr’s main vocal line. Both lines work out of opposite inputs, and it’s a clever piece of instrumentation from One Time and RiddimBoss – setting the Afrobeats tone well.

Fully Advanced then features other, signature Afrobeats devices. The drum arrangement is crucial, seeing the snare hit the offbeat between the two and three, then directly on the four – with additional rolls at points. It’s used in other ways, too – with occasional brushes and rim clicks present. Hi-hats weave in and out at times, working off highly syncopated riffs and the occasional buzz roll. Interestingly, the use of the kick is understated – generally hitting the one with some rapid-fire multiple hits used as a bridging device between the song’s phrases. The whole drum arrangement follows the ‘less is more’ mantra, and works perfectly.

Lilting guitars set out their stall from the off, running gentle, airy riffs which join with the second balafon line as responding to Mahr’s main call. Meanwhile, the bass is pure Afrobeats – taking the basic Dancehall clave (‘oneeeeee-twooo-and’) in the first part of each bar but extending the ‘and’, then hitting the final ‘and-four’ at the end. Melodically, it’s unfussy but effective, using the root of the chord throughout but jumping between octaves on it. The engineering on it isn’t overpowering, keeping a rich and warm tone throughout – and the overall effect is to drive not only momentum but also the chord progressions.

The inclusion of some fleeting strings just towards the end of the track is a gorgeous move – and overall, Fully Advanced is a flowing, smooth cut with just the right balance between syncopation and measured glide. Moreover, it allows Mahr to bounce off it perfectly.

He’s always a pleasure to listen to, with his recognisable tone and ability to turn his hand to most genres. Here is no exception, as he performs rhythmically intricate singjay-style vocals interspersed with straighter singing. The track demonstrates his strong vocal range, with a crystal-clear use of upper tenor from him. His enunciation even across rapid runs and riffs is spot-on, and of particular note is the clipping of certain notes when it marries with the lyrics – then elongating others. Lyrically Mahr is on fire too – as he discusses how certain people in your life are not always right for you, often bringing in negativity and sapping positive energy away. As he says in the track: “Fully advanced; give them no second chance. Trying to feast around my table, yet them working for the devil”. Indeed – and the accompanying video from Don ‘Banks Films’ McGregor, filmed in Mahr’s home town of Linstead, Jamaica is nicely constructed too; juxtaposing the thematic content with imagery of positive people and situations.

Fully Advanced is a fresh, summery cut from Mahr, One Time and Island Wav/RiddimBoss. It’s a smart piece of composition, as the musical delicateness offsets the cautious yet self-empowering nature of the lyrics well. Well-arranged and produced, with Mahr vocally faultless – it’s a perfect example of delicious, accessible Afrobeats that has an important message at its heart. Lovely.