Standing tall on the knowledge that sometimes songs need to hibernate for a few years, Mostacho Xprmnt knows that good art can’t be rushed, and the final release of Ocean – six years after its initial creation – speaks volumes on behalf of that.
RnB
As a producer, speakeađy describes his music as ‘angsty millennial type beats’. Perhaps this is the perfect way to define his approach, but there’s far more to the sound and experience of this project than a simple four-word phrase can express. Depth and substance play a huge part, lyrically and in terms of the emotion and mood that each soundscape presents you with.
A beautiful song, lyrically refreshing, structurally simple yet subtly creative in the same instance – long-form bars intertwine with shorter fragments of ideas. Delicacy meets with grit – images of peace are contrasted by those of violence; again subtly, just prominent enough to leave a mark.
Jacob Seeger’s vocal melts hearts on this new release. Backed up by a simple and fairly retro, unusually quirky backdrop, there are as many fresh and energizing qualities to Down as there are those that feel familiar and comforting.Â
There’s a certain passionate depth to the writing, and the featured singer handles and presents this with an air of realness. Behind the vocal though, the soundscape is decidedly complex, unexpectedly detailed and multi-layered to the point that you can pick up something new with each revisit.
Digging deep into precisely the story-line implied by the title, Thank God You Cheated holds nothing back – regret and betrayal roam free throughout the lyrics, the verses in particular detailing both the heartbreak and the desire to move forwards.
Despite the complex and impressive nature of the instrumentation, it takes nothing away from the natural qualities of the voice. Impeccable production, incredibly skillful and absolutely worthy of any and all praise sent through.
I think this song is quite brilliant. Itâs entertaining, layered, engaging, wears its empty heart on its sleeve and is all the more powerful the more you think about what youâve just heard.
The Keymakers are consistently perfecting their craft, working on those qualities that already come naturally to them, and that’s why every release they present leads its listeners down an enchanting and endlessly impressive pathway
Underlining dashes of influence from the likes of dance-hall and hip hop all at once, the song takes its time to fill the room, leading from a dreamlike aura into a delicate bounce of a beat, progressing from simple, catchy melodic development to a more London-inspired rap flow.
Producer Groove has crafted this album of originals from a position of experience and genuine emotion, fusing the best of his abilities in sound design, with a clear connection to creativity, and a heartfelt look at life.
The very concept of balance, of needing to find that in order to achieve peace and to re-connect with those who matter, is something rarely pondered in modern hip hop; or music in general. This song goes against the grain in many ways, not throwing blame or leading with guilt, just keeping things honest.