Rico exercises a simple love for the genre, a fairly creative and surprisingly dreamlike backdrop accompanies a seemingly carefree, intimate vocal delivery that suits the upfront nature of the lyrics.
Singles
Lil Dream collaborates with an array of producers and artists on this latest EP, driving with an immediately colourful musicality, and a clear sense of good vibes and rhythm.
The verses lay out detail and personality, a performance that meanders and is consistently expressive and interesting. At these moments, the soundscape connects more strongly, seeing the track suddenly feel like a genuine hit from yesteryear – a mid-album D12 or Outkast track, but with a fresh identity and intention.
Enter Oluse, an artist who couldn’t care less what the genre expects musically, but who rolls with the punches in his own creatively free and surprisingly captivating manner.
Savesomeone’s voice offers a fitting level of calm and quiet confidence. There’s honesty in the lyrics, vulnerability even, and this, combined with a notably minimalist backdrop, means the performance manages to connect well.
It’s hard to compare the work ethic of Cesare to anyone else in independent hip hop right now. The first of yet two more brand new releases is a track that hits with memorable impact, showcasing Cesare at his peak passionately, engaged within a story-line that holds close to the intense & gritty vibe presented by the music.
While the title is a nod to modern life, the phrasing, the tech, the search for understanding, what you’ll ultimately find within is a country-rock, jazz-piano-soaked classic – an explosion of organic instrumentation, high energy and nostalgia; enough so to take you way back to bar fights and big bands.
There’s a hint of Rage Against The Machine to this style of performance, a welcomed nod to music’s past, though the UK twang and that classic hip hop confidence help take things somewhere decidedly refreshing.
Mashing up spoken word, hardcore, rock, pop and more besides, we are taken by the hand and yanked through a blizzard of exciting changes. The highly intelligent and witty mix makes features out of the shouted word ‘fuck’ one minute and a single delicate tap of the bell of a ride cymbal the next.
Rock Bottom has, at its heart, an epic sensibility that is screaming out to be synced to a film – probably over the end credits. Yep, it’s that good. It might be a slightly quirky take on indie pop, but that’s exactly what indie pop should be. This track is essential listening.
It sounds like an intentional anthem to me: full of aspirational language, flourishes of gospel ad-libbing and a choir of supporting voices adding warming colours that bloom into the arrangement as the piece progresses. Come on, America – you’d better do as it says.
All-in-all, The Rocky Coast of Maine is a stand-alone triumph, fulfilling its own mythology in its own run time. It’s beautifully played, beautifully told and is a haunting testament to folk music songwriting. Lovely.