Best review and investigation of this album is available on The Egoist Review written by W. J. Humphries https://theegoistreview.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/the-roseline/#comments "Hailing from New York, Malik Ameer and The Madmen’s 2007 EP The Roseline is imbued with the city’s underground scene; however, this is more than simply East Coast hip-hop, with influences ranging from smooth jazz to gospel soul. On first listening the album feels unwieldy, reveling in its own experimentation; however, repeated listening begins to unify the work; it is a deeper aesthetic that binds the tracks rather than a superficial sound. Whilst this may come across initially as clumsy, it is, in fact, a far more exciting approach to music, with a sense of improvisation that does not usually exist within this genre. Ameer’s lyrics and vocals give the album its raw, urban feel – an accomplished poet in his own right, there is a more nuanced appreciation of vocal sound and the interplay of syllabic structures on show during The Roseline. It is the sense of chance that makes this work so exciting. The album opens with In the Smashan, a five-minute exploration of city life that sets the tone for the rest of the work. With its reference to the ceremonial Hindu cremation ground (smashan), The Madmen draw us into urban New York – an unpredictable environment and one where Ameer describes ‘seeing death as my only escape’. And yet, it is not only through death that Ameer explores outside of New York; art, mythology and history are as much a part of the construction of this album as the music itself: in Jivatma Sings there is further reference to Hinduism, whilst Ancestral Portraits introduces Caribbean and African percussion influences..." https://theegoistreview.wordpress.com/2012/10/03/the-roseline/#comments Original Album description THE MADMEN breathe in New York City. They are musicians who are obsessed with honesty, history, ancestry, artistic development and improvisation. They draw inspiration from painters, writers, dancers, myths, musicians, architects, and... well... All people who are sincerely devoted to the ruthless investigation through one's work, for the attainment of enlightenment. The members of The Madmen are as follows: Malik Ameer, Jonathan Finlayson, David Michell-Rudy, Lorin Benedict & Max Tucker