COPUS PRESS COVERAGE
Review of THE ASSIGNMENT
Music review world
It’s spoken word galore on The Assignment, a new spoken word and piano album consisting of six tracks by the ensemble COPUS. The ensemble began in the late 1990s when poet and spoken word artist Royal Kent partnered with the composer and pianist, Wendy Loomis. Royal Kent passed away in 2024. The Assignment is a tribute album drawn from Royal Kent’s handwritten journals, selected by Wendy Loomis.
All of the songs on the album have titles beginning with the letter ‘L’, leaving the reviewer to speculate that the letter holds a special meaning to Wendy Loomis and COPUS. Be that as it may, ‘Legend’ is the first song we meet on The Assignment. It is performed, I assume, by Wendy Loomis (correction - performed by Clara Hsu). This is an interesting fact since Royal Kent was a man. ‘Legend’ starts with an a cappella recitation, then dynamically shifts into recitation accompanied by the piano, which begins with a cluster of keys that produce a dense, heavy sound, before moving to a lighter, single key played repeatedly.
Lyrically, the song touches on many subjects: there’s talk of Muhammad Ali, the downtrodden, a witch, a buffalo brother, and there’s also mentions of God and Jah. Two legendary musicians are named in this song: Bob Marley, who’s referenced as a freedom fighter and Bob Dylan.
The song has some encouraging words – with a brother/comrade told to walk and ride on. At times, the performance sounds intimate, as if the performer is talking to the listener, but at times the performance loses its intimacy when it gains more energy, coming across as cold.
Up next is ‘Life’. Here the listener meets a male performer. The song also starts with a cappella recitation. Lyrically, the song begins autobiographically, with the performer telling the story of being ‘born a spring baby’, the birth year being put to 1950. Again, the song gives words of encouragement, the performer reciting, in a slightly forceful manner: ‘Better hold with all your might/better let go with all your might’. Then God is invoked four times, giving the song an element of prayer:
‘God help us through this craze/ God help us through this maze/ God help us through this phase/ God help us in our ways/’
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The song also touches on the fantastical: ‘the sea sits above the houses’, ships sailing ‘over the rooftops’. There are some heartfelt moments: the character thanking their English teacher. The song’s also cautionary, warning that one reaps what they sow.
The third song on the album is ‘Lunacy’. The female performer returns. It only takes a few words – ‘Humanity/Held together by gravity’ – for the piano to kick in. The performer builds into her performance slowly, gaining energy as she goes. Lyrically, the song earlier on talks about the possibility of humanity getting it together or going the way of insanity. The imagery here is notable: the poet is told to purse their lips and open their mouth so that the words can ride ‘upon the wind of your breath’. The performer then gives us the question: ‘Can they see me?’.
This is another of those songs that references the downtrodden, talking about housing inequalities between societies.
God is again invoked here. We hear that it’s maybe time for one to get on their knees and pray and maybe ask God for forgiveness. It’s a searching song – the writer interrogating the world, speaking how the world has tried to make them behave, perhaps break them down. But they’re defiant, saying that they’re in it to win it. There’s also the loss of a son, a son who they miss.
Up next is ‘Love’. The song starts with the piano, the recitation from a man this time, coming in later. The performer is rather meditative on this song, reminiscing on this dream where they are singing with some lady. The character here makes some wishful declarations, saying that to have them in their dream land would be like heaven to them. They also talk about how their presence gives them courage.
Up next is ‘Liberation’. The song starts a cappella and sees the return of a male performer. Rise up and conquer, we’re told in the a cappella part. Soon afterwards, a staccato piano comes in. Lyrically, we hear that every man, woman and child has a mind to make and soul to protect.
This is a self-aware song – the song being aware that COPUS is a musical outfit with a purpose ‘to strength your imagination’. Gil Scott-Heron and their inclusion into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2021 are later commented upon, Royal Kent’s words telling us that he believed that the inclusion had been late. The songs also talks directly to the listener, saying that should they choose to listen, may they be rewarded with ‘the creativity, the love, conviction of great artistry’.
Be yourself, the song states – also becoming fantastical as we hear of the riding of a chariot in the sky. Freedom, the song’s main theme, is said to be something that has always been and will always live like it has. The song not only calls for freedom from oppression, but from depression as well.
‘Light’ is the last song on The Assignment. The song sees the return of a female performer. It starts with the question: ‘What is the creature with a lion’s body and a human head we call sphinx?’ But the question I find searing is: ‘What is the broadening of the imagination but a realization of how it occurs?’ The lyrics then references the jazz singer Nancy Wilson’s gentle singing of ‘Guess Who I Saw Today’. Another question the song asks is: ‘Was it for nought we gave freedom a shot?’
This is again a self-aware song – this is exemplified by the line: ‘Have mic. Will recite’. On the instrumental side, the piano comes through as strong and impersonal.
SCORE/Excellent: The Assignment is an excellent album: its sprawling lyrics are the main draw, and the vocal performances immerse the listener in multiple worlds. COPUS has done a commendable job of keeping Royal Kent’s legacy alive, though one can imagine that had Kent been alive, the album might have taken a different shape.
Indie Music Plus
Joe Joe Keys
Indie Music Plus embodies the essence of indie. We embrace all genres without discrimination. If your music resonates with quality, you'll find a spot on our site. With that in mind, my initial encounter with the new single "Methuselah" by Copus left me bewildered, yet intrigued. Brace yourselves for an unconventional auditory adventure that's not rock, pop, or rap; it's a unique fusion of spoken word and music that demands a listen.
The ensemble, Copus, which stands for Creation of Peace Under Stars, originated in 1998 through the collaboration of poet Royal Kent and composer Wendy Loomis. They've crafted a unique sound described as Renaissance Funk, blending the rhythmic essence of spoken word with a musical backdrop. Though new to me, Renaissance Funk has apparently been carving its niche for quite some time. If you're acquainted with spoken word over music, this emerging genre—Renaissance Funk—will likely pique your interest.
Now, onto the song "Methuselah." Its divergence from the mainstream is refreshing. The sound quality is top-notch, offering clarity in every beat, though the vocals may seem a bit subdued and muffled—a deliberate choice, perhaps, to accentuate the genre's distinct style. Despite this, the lyrics remain fairly discernible, a crucial aspect for appreciating the poetic rhythm intertwined with the music.
The piano, although subtle, adds a delicate touch, enhancing the narrative carried by the spoken words. It's not about catchy hooks or enticing melodies; it's about the seamless marriage of rhythm and poetry that takes center stage. Two noteworthy highlights of "Methuselah" are its impeccable sound clarity and the innovative blend of spoken word, which makes Copus stand out. Their distinct style might just be the fresh breath of air the music industry needs, appealing particularly to those with a penchant for the unconventional.
Copus has undoubtedly brought something unique to the table, and I'm grateful they shared their music for review. Now, I'm eager to hear your thoughts on Copus and their novel single "Methuselah." Connect with me on social media at @JoeJoeKeys and let Copus know you discovered their music right here on Indie Music Plus!
Clouzine Magazine
Joe Kidd
Brothers & Sisters,
It has been my unspoken rule not to review the same band twice. I feel it may not be fair to the artists who deserve a more broad stroke of attention. But when Clouzine contacted me to ask if I might listen to the new record by COPUS, I agreed immediately... My first question this time was 'what is the dilemma?' It is crucial to understand where the writers and musicians are living inside their heads in order to apply justice to their art.
In a world where commercial radio is a barren desert of homogenized and formulated regurgitated noise decorated with fire bombs and half naked dancers, COPUS is an oasis of articulate and moving organic music and hard core intelligent verse.
COPUS will wake you up from the media induced slumber of mendacity. You will be challenged and charged to act upon what you hear. Your heart will travel back to when revolution was a thing and the people were fierce and fearless. Your mind will travel into the future where hope is aolive and waiting for you to join together as a community and as a species to bring the corruption, volence, and madness to its proper end.
COPUS is jazz, my friends, jazz and poetry. It is human in an industry were AI music and Yacht Rock are actually recognized as genres. On this record, COPUS steps everything up a notch. They are conjuring all soulful warriors past, present, and yet to come. They are standing at the Walls of Jericho with their horns blasting. It is dance music. Dance your way into a new and colorful world. Swing and sway through the smoke-filled rooms of freedom, love, and happiness. Show respect to one another. Be smart. Be brave. Listen to COPUS with your tribe. COPUS is listening to you.
New York Times
Knvul Sheikh
On Oct. 29, a composition by The ClimateMusic Project — a jazz and spoken-word piece called “What If We…?” — was performed by the band COPUS in front of an audience of about 250 people at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C., for the opening of the World Bank’s Art of Resilience exhibition.
To create the piece, Wendy Loomis, the composer for ClimateMusic, and Alison Marklein, an environmental researcher at the University of California, Riverside, began with data on sea-level rise published in the journal Earth’s Future in 2018 and often cited by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. A computer algorithm then converted each foot of potential sea-level rise into an audio frequency, each frequency slightly higher than the last. The result was the aural equivalent of a graph.
The composition begins with audio representing the current-day sea level. As the piece progresses, it tracks the data into the future, like the time axis on a graph. The music becomes increasingly distorted and intense, and a battle ensues between the bass (representing diminishing land area) and the drums (rising sea level) that is emotionally jarring.
Spoken over the composition are fictional (but plausible) news headlines from the future, envisaging how rising sea levels may affect the globe, such as “The Arctic Ocean is ice free for the first time” and “the Marshall Islands are almost completely swallowed by the Pacific Ocean.”
Video by the Climate Music Project of the COPUS World Bank performance can be seen here:
MusicDish.com
Michael Allison
COPUS is a musical group with some of the most talented musicians that I have yet come across. The music is a mixture of Spoken Word, jazz, a touch of blues and a hint of classical styles. This music is a little difficult to compare to anyone else because I have never really heard anyone like this group. The jazz styles are very complex and the music that is created is absolutely masterful. These compositions are amazing with just the music, but then you get the added pleasure of the smooth spoken word vocal styles of Royal Kent.
His poetic onslaught of powerful lyrics are mind boggling, to say the least. His silky smooth voice holds a tight grip on the listener's ear and keeps them in a state of mind numbing ecstasy. The musical virtuosity of the members in this group is absolutely amazing. Having this much talent in one band should be a crime.
The music develops into a sort of scenic painting in your mind as it is played. The warmth and soul of the musicians is almost seamlessly produced throughout the entire album. This is musicianship and songwriting at its best. I don't have to tell you how impressed I am at the talent and musical excellence that is portrayed here. This is new music for the new millennium. I also recommend this be one of the first choices for Spoken Word Album of the Year.
Personal Notes: I never considered myself a fan of spoken word styles of jazz. Although I have always been a jazz fan, the spoken word aspect was never one of my favorites. This band has definitely changed that perspective. I was surprised at how much I liked this music.
There is something about it that makes me want to hear it more. I'm not sure if it's the music or the lyrics or the vocals. I only know that it's there and it is definitely alluring. It is my belief that this music could be legendary if given the opportunity to thrive.
I've heard the buzz about this style, but never thought much of it until I heard the music. Now you need to hear it, whoever YOU are. The worst that could happen is that you broaden your horizons and find yourself really loving a style of music that you might not have known about before. If you are already one of those who like the spoken word style, then this is a group well worth checking out. This is one band that I am really happy to have as a part of my music community.
Clouzine Magazine
Joe Kidd
Brothers and Sisters, this one goes out to all of you who claim to seek Truth. Gather 'round, rush the stage, rise up, and claim your inheritance. Listen to this! We have found another nugget, another source, another proof that Truth does exist. It comes in the incarnation of a band called COPUS (Creation Of Peace Under Stars).
Now look upward and be inspired. When we think of Jazz, we think of communion of souls merging as one force to create one sound, the music of the spheres, the ever-present everlasting Om. When we think of Hip Hop, we think of free form poetry, mature and muscular, intelligent and timeless. If we are able, we may imagine what could happen when those two realities come together. This is where COPUS lives.
When I hear this song for the first time, I immediately thought "West Coast" where the green grass, the hot desert, the majestic mountains and the great ocean form the landscape - where diverse cultures exist, not only side by side, but intertwined.
COPUS is an offspring of these influences. Together they incite a revolution of thought, with the focus on outcome and results. They expressed a unique knowledge of the world as a community, often in need, but not without resource and possibility. This is street music, street poetry reminiscent of prophets like Gil Scott-Heron and The Last Poets. I hear the beat poets of NYC, and the great jazz artists of the 1960s.
COPUS comes to us with music that is solidly constructed to withstand the weight of the heavy rhymes. Rhymes of liberation, rhymes of activism, rhymes of consequence. In the critical and historic days that we currently find ourselves thrust into, it is essential that we have artists with wisdom that we can trust. It is crucial that our poets and musicians intend to find the ways and means to inform us and direct us to the Truth. That is what this track and this groups is all about.
COPUS is a world-class organization with a catalog of important material. They have recently received the Clouzine Magazine Award for Best Spoken Word Group. To find out why, you are invited to visit them at their official website.
Music Connection Magazine
Tom Kidd
From San Francisco group COPUS comes one of the most intriguing, challenging, and ultimately satisfying albums of the year. The core of the group is composer, musical director and co-producer Wendy Loomis and Royal Kent, poet and co-producer. Together, they produce music that is part jazz, part classical, cerebral and sexy. Think of Copus as the love child of Jack Kerouac and Grace Jones.
S.F. Bay Guardian
Cheryl Eddy
Music Pick: After meeting at an open mic event six years ago, poet Royal Kent and composer Wendy Loomis pooled their talents and formed Copus, a group that fuses spoken word with the members' own brand of millennium music (a mix of classical, world, blues, jazz, and other genres). This freethinking approach to the creative process makes Copus - now a full-fledged band with flute, drums, stand up bass, and other instruments - perfect as host of 'Language: The Journey to World Peace'.