Just Be

Album Review by SA Vignola

     

Brett Marshall Lefferts is an emerging electronic musician, fusing funk grooves with acoustic folk instrumentation over a lush scape of digital noise; a style he calls funkfoltronica. Brett's musical experience is varied: he trained as a classical flutist, is a self-taught guitarist and pianist, and a lover of a gritty synth sweep and persuasive drum sequence. His influences include Moby, Peter Gabriel, Stevie Wonder, and Nick Drake, among many others.

Brett's new album, Just Be, is the product of two years of diligence and ingenuity. One of its tracks, "Threshold of a Dream," is a Runner-Up in the Electronic category of the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. Just Be has received radio air play at WMUA 91.1 Amherst and has been used in dance classes and performances at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in MA, as well as Dancespace and WAX in NYC. Brett's music has been described as 'the union of wonder and majesty. One is carried along it's harmonies, calmed and yet encouraged. The songs from Just Be resonate within, long after they have been turned off and wandered away from.'

Brett has managed to create something that is separate from mainstream 'churned-out-multi-million-dollar-deal' music. In that way, it has a certain innocence and simplicity. Yet, there is nothing innocent or simple about it. It is music that reflects both thought and emotion.