The Ebony Bed is a collaboration between three D.C.-based artists: producer K-Murdock, singer/songwriter Alona, and graphic designer Aaron Hill. The project began a few years ago when Murdock remixed Alona’s “The Missing,” inspiring them to collaborate on a full-length concept album. Aaron Hill’s graphics will play a bigger part in the physical release, which also promises an extended back story to the album. Meanwhile, the digital release gives the listener plenty to digest.

One of the things that hit me from the start is how different this record sounds from K-Murdock’s work with Mega Ran or Raw Poetic. It’s the sign of a really talented and mature musician, and it really allows the album to flourish on it’s own, instead of just sounding like another K-Murdock joint. There is still a certain amount of classic East Coast hip hop to the album, and Raw Poetic makes a couple of guest appearances, but there are more R&B and space rock influences here. There are also flourishes of torch song phrasing, providing warmth and mood and recalling Someday My Blues Will Cover the Earth-era His Name is Alive while occupying its own space. The music never really pushes the tempo, which works well to create the general mood of the album, and it also gives room for Alona’s voice to resonate. It’s also impressive just how many instrumental and minor tone shifts Murdock incorporates without having it sound unfocused or cluttered.

All of K-Murdock’s excellent work would be for not if Alona didn’t deliver the goods with her vocals and lyrics. She shines on both counts. She possesses a powerful voice, which has a very nice vibrato to it. While I’ve heard plenty of female singers tackle R&B with extremely generic romantic lyrics, Alona creates a more interesting listening experience with abstract poetry that really draws in the listener. In “Lucidity,” she sings, “Come follow me to lucidity/waking dreams are magical/A carpet ride to where secrets hide the questions to unsolvable.” It’s this fantastical sci-fi imagery that really separates The Ebony Bed from its contemporaries. The only other artist that immediately comes to mind is Janelle Monae, an avowed fan of author Octavia Butler. I would imagine Alona has read Butler as well.

I imagine with the full production of the physical release Aaron Hill’s graphics will be more prominently featured, which I’m sure will enhance the overall experience that much more. The digital release is extremely fulfilling and doesn’t sound like many other records out right now. It’s complex, beautiful, and thoughtful. I keep listening to the record over again and discovering more each time. It’s an incredibly rewarding and engaging album.