When a real drummer can imitate that slowed down and choppy groove from 90’s hip hop, it sounds like pure gold. It’s a tough pocket to master, that’s for sure. Hartford hip-hop/soul fusion group Broca’s Area grooves and sways, while Mary Corso’s smooth-like-butter vocals string you along. The interplay between her and rapper Ghazi Omair’s angular flow would be enough for a killer group, but these guys push it over the edge with a groovy drummer, Steven Cusano, whose timing creates a backbeat that puts the world in slo-mo. And that’s not even mentioning the absurdly tasty keys. They’ll be playing a show at The Spot Underground in Providence April 1st, don’t miss it! They’re new album is available here, and a portion of the proceeds from each CD goes the Connecticut Brain Tumor Association. – Paul Jordan Talbot