Not My World makes for a rather stunning introduction to the band, their sound is immediately powerful, melodic yet hard-hitting, and musically masterful in every way. Delicate synth riffs meet with heavy distortion and a series of captivating performances that prove increasingly impressive as things progress.
Music
Tar-ris’s use of breath as a percussion element and bird sounds in the chorus, coupled with the piano loops, creates a cinematic undertone that ultimately adds to the overarching drama of the music.
The lyrical content is congruous to the title’s suggested themes, with mentions of the stars, the dark, and the sky. This is furthered by a driving, but atmospheric production featuring long reverbs to create a large sense of space, and orbiting delays that pan across the stereo field like comet tails across the night’s sky.
Bringing together an array of influences, leading with a hip hop backbone but a notably spacious and heartfelt pairing of soundscapes and vocals, Musical Therapy is almost entirely the ambient calm its title promises.
BICHAI is self-described as an electronic lounge artist, which might imply that a listening experience is an indoor one. But if you close your eyes and listen, the scope of the vision and the depth of the sonic choice makes it a far wider one.
To quote their own subtitles in the video, this tune is ‘shwanky boooyyyyzzz’! It’s confident, full of swagger and fine musicianship. The guitar playing is as crisp and detailed as you could wish for – and the whole is a toe-tapping lesson in full-on groove.
Fusing the addictive benefits of a rhythmic and upbeat soundscape, with a quickly engaging, emotional story-line and vocal, Tidal Wave is a simple dream of a pop track. The song utilizes poetry and metaphor to craft and build-up brilliantly towards and easily memorable hook.
Maryland’s Maji drives with a somewhat unsettling balance between smooth and rhythmic vocals, and a totally unpredictable, experimental display of soundscape design throughout this new EP.
Gauntlet may well be an introduction to Bonne Finken for many of us, but it’s likely to be far from the last we’ll hear of her. Well worth a listen at volume.
The band are working out a lot harder than a cursory listen would imply, and their attention to detail is a pleasure to notice upon repeat listens. I would say that they deserve a shout-out, but this is a lullaby…
The realness is incredibly appealing right now, which is just one of many reasons why Tomahawk and Quintin Brand alike can be known to offer something refreshing and undoubtedly welcome in contemporary hip hop. Absolutely worth a download and a few streams at volume as the long nights flow through.
There are journeys within each of these compositions, and the details and pauses, the weight contrasted by the lightness, all adds to the experience – helping make this entire album no less than a dream to lose yourself within.