Let The Light In by KAMM
LA's Elbow Grease Records takes a sharp left turn from dancefloor-finessing singles to their first full-length release with the elusive yet illustrious band KAMM.
KAMM, who return in extra fine form for their third and presumably final album offering, following the sudden, tragic death of core member Alland Byallo last year. Surviving bandmates Marc Barrite, also known as Dave Aju, Kenneth Scott, and Marc Smith chose the inspirational higher ground, finishing what they had begun with Byallo before his passing, resulting in this sublime musical love letter of an album.
In keeping with the band’s broad influence canon, we are treated to a blend of sonic flavors from across the genre spectrum with Barrite and Byallo’s jazz upbringings ringing true at the center, then branching out through golden era hip-hop feels, phased-out psych funk, warm smokey soul, and of course generous helpings of intricate electronic layers and innovative treatments, as all band members have become notorious for in their respective solo bodies of work.
While highly personal by nature, including otherworldly cover art based on Byallo's last paintings, the musical content contained on the album is also widely universal - from opener "Crystalline Dreams" serpentine tones turned slo-mo funk bomb, to the triptych Bossa boom-bap of "No Deal", the timely political calls of uptempo jazz burner "Your Honor", the intimate upright-led tribute tales of "Angels Flight", to the sleek electro rhythm changes of mid-set breather "How Long?", a deeply felt take on our mobile-reliant fate in "S.I.M.", the expansively expressive depth of "Coordinates", then closing it out with the title track featuring a grand finale chorus of Byallo’s best friends and fam from around the world joining in the "Let The Light In" chant, with as much uplifting intention as possible to capture on record. A loving collective embrace and a very welcome reminder to help lighten these darker days.
KAMM - Let The Light In
Release Date May 2025
Label Elbow Grease Records
Tracklist
01. Crystalline Dreams
02. No Deal
03. Your Honor
04. Angels Flight
05. How Long?
06. S.I.M.
07. Coordinates
08. Let The Light In