FOR THE RECORD: N.E.R.D ‘In Search Of…’ (2002)

The name Pharrell Williams is now synonymous with a lot of things, all not necessarily positive. An established artist in his own right this past year, with über hit ‘Happy’and being disco-besties with Daft Punk, you’d be forgiven for knowing him for other slightly more controversial topics – the ‘Blurred Lines’issue, and now the Native American headdress saga. But before you belly up a barrel full of hate-rage, bear with me a moment…I’d like to take you back to when I first heard the name on record, to an album and to an artistic moment that has helped shape the sound of popular music in the last decade.

The year is 2002, the artist is N.E.R.D, and the album is ‘In Search Of…’

nerd

The background bit – N.E.R.D (acronym for No-one Ever Really Dies) were made up of Williams and Chad Hugo, who’d become a successful production duo together throughout the ‘90s under the guise of The Neptunes, and third member Shay Haley.  The album was released in 2001 (that version is now a rarity), then reworked with backing band Spy Mob and re-released in 2002. Prior to this album, The Neptunes had been enjoying some serious success. They had that rare producer moment, shared with the likes of Dr. Dre and Timbaland, when you instantly recognise that a track belongs to them (cue brief list of examples: Britney Spears’‘… Slave 4 U’, ODB’s ‘Got Your Money’, Justin Timberlake’s ‘Like I Love You’, Snoop Dogg’s ‘Beautiful’etc etc etc…). In short, ‘In Search Of…’ is the culmination of ideas from the men that bought you some of the catchiest and smartest Pop, Hip Hop and R&B tracks of the early part of the century.

“What the bloody hell does it sound like?”I hear you cry.  Well, the NME at the time said this: “’In Search Of…’ is a producer’s album in the best sense, showcasing the personal and lyrical over flashy technique. Williams and Hugo have plenty to say, reflecting on politics, sex and social injustice with an eccentric but over-arching intelligence lacking in most contemporary soul records.”

In my opinion the album is musical sunshine, perhaps this is why I’m compelled to talk about now on a rare sunny moment in Manchester; it’s the sound of primal giddiness, excitement, lust, romance, laziness and joy that a little bit of sun in the afternoon brings me. It also has that feeling of slamming you back to earth with a bang, like watching ‘Unreported World’ after a few drinks, on the more blatant social commentaries. It is saturated with funkadelic synths, like a modern day G-Funk. Permeating this are some fantastic rockier guitars and utterly thunderous percussion throughout. The experimental nature of each track along with a variety of lyrical content make the record feel reminiscent of Prince’s ‘Sign ‘O’The Times’. Bold statement yes, but one I’m absolutely willing to standby.

NERD - In Search Of (Back)

Various shades of light and dark are cast across ‘In Search Of…’. We open and close with in-your-face floor bangers ‘Lapdance’and ‘Rock Star’, two songs that showcase the zinging synth hooks that were a production trademark back in the day, along with stomach punching drums. These tracks are loud and brash, the musical equivalent of a Magaluf stag do – if they come on when you’re not expecting them you may find yourself in a state of shock, particularly if your amps are at 11. However, the beauty here lies lyrically. The songs actually aren’t celebrations of having a semi naked grind or the Mötley Crüe lifestyle. Rather, the former critiques American politicians’ way of dressing themselves up to both corporation and public for capital gains, the latter regarding how the day of the vulgar rock idol on a pedestal is over (a hint of irony here perhaps…).

The political innuendo paves the way for 2 of the albums stand out tracks with some serious social commentary. ‘Bobby James’about a teen addict and ‘Provider’, one of my personal favourites,is the story of a Coke dealer laying his life out for us to see, wanting to change, not sure how, failed by the system and entangled in the web of street life. Combined with frustration of his scenario is the beautiful tenderness of the lyrics regarding his lady at home and the soft acoustic underlay. For all of N.E.R.D’s blatancy, there’s a classic romanticism ringing true here.

I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a highly sexed album. It is definitely the product of some unrequited urges and excitable boys. But rather than looking to gangsta misogyny for reference, the boys use utilise a more Prince-esque approach, making sex a bit sexy. There are some tremendously blatant examples popping up (excuse the pun) on ‘Brain’and ‘Truth or Dare’. We see Pharrell try to woo a lady into some nookie, Kelis then slamming with a ‘you can’t handle this’stance, leaving the lad looking like a horny teenager being turned down. Less smoothly seductive, more quite funny, with a jarring beat that sounds like a sexed up theme tune to ‘Jaws’. We then have the dreamier tracks, such as ‘Run to The Sun’, ‘Am I High’and ‘Stay Together’. These are full of psychedelic sauciness and twinkly keyboards, the kind of vibes that invoke a laid back morning, sun creeping through the curtains and a hotty next to you. My favourites are the 2 tracks that strike a balance between the sweet anticipation and the blatant. These songs are lighter on the eardrums, rhythmically programmed to get the hips moving and the head nodding approvingly. ‘Baby Doll’is retro surf/rockabilly style mid-tempo jam with a drum beat you will find impossible not dance along to and lyrics like a sexy nursery rhyme. ‘Things Are Getting Better’is positive, synth-laden song full of excitement for the day ahead. It’s a track for those days where you wake up feeling a bit cool, and bit sexy, a bit tough and ready to take on the world. The kind of song that changes your walk into a Travolta strut when it comes on your headphones.

This is a not an ‘in defence of’article. You think what you want about Pharrell Williams and I’ll have my opinion too, but I won’t share it here. This is an article about an album that I feel has gone largely unnoticed in favour of the work he and The Neptunes have guested/collaborated on. And well, why have the watered down version when you can go straight to the pure stuff? ‘In Search Of…’is the uncensored, unequivocal version of all the awesome things they did for other artists. Yet when I ask fans if they have this record, it’s considered for more of the geeky enthusiast. To them I say nah mate! This will fill up some gaps in your record collection you didn’t even know you had, and heighten all senses as a party soundtrack.

Go on…don’t hate… let ‘In Search Of…’help you find what you were looking for.

Kate Tittley
@LeTitts

Kate Tittley

Kate Tittley

When not making cocktails for Manchester's finest, Le Titts is most likely to be found the other side of the bar in a cloud of smoke and wine musing loudly over her fantasy band line up, love of the album format and why nothing is better than The Stone Roses. And then spilling the wine...Loving the ride with GigSlutz.
Kate Tittley

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