Something to listen to at volume, largely for its blissful fusion of intricate detail and soulful expression. An ambient, ethereal journey, blending spiritual warmth and trip hop across an evocative realm of lyrical guidance and meandering sounds. Isaac Garza’s music is a dream and a pleasure to stumble into, and Revolt marks a sublime introduction for those new to his work.
Not confined nor led purely by style or genre, instead a clear artistic expression or capture of feeling and mood, Revolt begins as if an instrumental, ambient piano piece, but soon becomes a mildly trip-hop and atmospheric healing voice or blending of world music and simple mainstream pop rhythms.
The melody rises and falls distinctly, but otherwise the work is unpredictable, even venturing out into hip hop during its final third. And none of this feels out of place – not even slightly. It’s the producer’s dream-space, akin to the projects of a simpler era – Zero 7, Massive Attack, Enya – only Isaac Garza has made sure to keep this as his own thing.
The world-music instruments, the tone, the warped lines of production, the stops and the starts, the changes in style. This one track alone feels like a short album or story in itself, consistently shape-shifting through almost six minutes of music.
Elsewhere in the Isaac Garza original repertoire, Todo Es Perfecto presents an ambient choir-like introduction, a fusion of languages, and those immersive, ethereal synths or keys once again. The pattern is familiar, Western by the design of the chords, but otherwise the music takes subtle hints of influence from a multitude of creative arenas.
Another highlight is the recent single Flow. Here those trip hop / world rhythms present us with another contemplative and intimate song, the voice quite distinct once it’s crossed your path already, and the music and lyrics work in unison to get the listener aptly surrendering to the embrace of the track.
Alchemy Of Paradise is also striking, rhythmically impressive and with a conscious rap vocal at the forefront to confidently guide us through these profoundly inspiring and uplifting sentiments. A personal favourite from the collection, but also a finely juxtaposed precursor to the retro-sci-fi weight of Sorcerer Within. As ever, Isaac Garza is impossible to predict, but always you can rely upon this inherent balancing of professionalism, precision, and creatively uninhibited passion.
Finally, to flip the script one last time, our vocal connection takes the wheel, piano and harmonised voices offering a brief, one-minute-sixteen expression of gratitude and oneness, and a track that’s just as captivating and thought-provoking as the fuller compositions from Garza.
An intoxicating and consistently original, insightful catalogue of music. I’m excited to see where else creativity takes Isaac Garza in the coming years.
Find Isaac Garza on Apple, Instagram & Facebook.
