Peace of Action is the latest release from artist Earl “Damu the Fudgemunk” Davis, and also, the newest installment of Def Pressé’s series of projects made in partnership with KPM (and associated music libraries).
With several titles in the series with notable names like Blockhead and Stro Elliot since its inception in 2021, Def Pressé Editions x KPM returned the artist that launched the line: Washington D.C.’s Damu the Fudgemunk marked the beginning of the Def Pressé Editions x KPM Crate Diggers legacy with his critically acclaimed (as featured on NPR) Conversation Peace in late summer of 2021. Three years later all original parties have teamed up to present album 2, Peace of Action.
“It’s a pleasure to present Peace of Action. So much excitement went into the initial venture to collaborate with KPM and become part of their history. When I listen to the final album, I hear all the excitement and passion I had for the music. Discovering things in their archive helped me discover and rediscover things about myself that I usually restrict in previous work. It was fun to break some rules and still maintain some limitations especially after 20 plus years of creating music. Being very pleased with the artistic and commercial success of my first Def Pressé x KPM album in 2021, I’m proud to expand the storyline with this particular energy and themes in 2024.” Earl Davis (Damu the Fudgemunk)
Damu alluded to a part 2 in the liner notes of Conversation Peace and has kept his word. Like it’s predecessor, Peace of Action features nine all new tracks, however this album contains no guests or vocals and is fully instrumental. With dozens of titles under his belt over the past two decades highlighting his musicality and a reputation built on beats, it may be of a surprise to many that this will be the Fudgemunk’s first official instrumental project in over seven years. Yes, seven years is quite some time, but don’t confuse the decision to prioritize making music with vocals to any inactivity on his part.
Check the catalog and you’ll see productions for MC’s like Raw Poetic and Blu account for lost time. During the particular hiatus from making solely Hip Hop records in the conventional form, Damu has composed, produced and performed on some really exciting Jazz projects. His work with Archie Shepp has met with great success and the album they made together, Ocean Bridges is often talked about years after release and heralded by people like Gilles Peterson.
With Peace of Action there was a ton of room for new ideas and fresh experimentation which can be heard all over this Damu LP. The signature is present where longtime listeners will easily pick out the fingerprints of his work. On the other hand, the creative process that included traveling to London and digging through KPM’s archive in real time spawned the freedom to break away from what many may define as a “calling card” and musically show a different dimension in an alternate universe. Artists at their core historically have created their best work under adventurous circumstances and that will be very evident in the listening experience of Damu the Fudgemunk’s “Peace of Action”.
Expect the unexpected. The vast diversity of KPM’s library provided limitless range for the ears and mind of a seasoned veteran like Damu who considers storytelling a vital component of art. On part one, Conversation Peace, it was a short film centered around engaging dialogue with a supporting score, and now part two, Peace of Action, is a silent film built around movements of the music where the director took great excitement in revealing a different side of the main character. Each song represents a scene that paints a unique world of its own. Even though the artist prefers to have the audience listen in full, a conscious decision was made to arrange music that didn’t have to rely on its counterparts to gain context. In a market driven by singles and singular impressions, any entry point into this body of work provides access for immersion.
Peace of Action makes a real statement from Damu. This is a Jazz record, made with Hip Hop production techniques. The source material is a love of the records that came before it. Literally, digging into the Jazz catalogue at KPM, taking inspiration from the material, absorbing the imagination and talent of previous composers, and re-imaging it through a multifaceted lens.
“It certainly reflects the accelerated changes we’ve all experienced since we entered the 2020’s. I hope the music is able to take people’s imagination to different places. I won’t give away too much detail into my personal messaging in each track because I prefer to leave that to the audience. But, I will say that there’s a common theme of transformation throughout. I’m sure there are a few people out there that’ll pick up on exactly where I’m going. And that’s the beauty of being able to share art with the world.” Earl Davis (Damu the Fudgemunk)
