Aurora has an addictively peaceful & inspiring ‘aura’ about it (for lack of a more relevant word). It’s consistently interesting, and it lets your mind wander so far from your current reality.
Music
Darick DDS Spears emerges like a long lost legend, never questioning his own abilities, which, in term, gives you confidence in them as you listen. He carries these tracks in a mighty way, and the album in full makes for a refreshingly considerate, colourful project.
Mother is an unquestionably heartfelt & captivating piece of music that expresses quite perfectly the sheer pain felt when someone close to you passes away, as well as the joy or hope that comes from everything they meant to you & taught you.
Taking the term ‘conscious rap’ to a whole new level. From the offset, the music lays out a certain manic darkness The leading vocal surrounds you with layers upon layers of multi-faceted bars & complex, thought provoking ideas.
Randy Steele has something special about his sound & his approach to creativity. These songs feel necessary, unstoppably expressive & skillful, and that’s a powerful thing to present.
The song is all at once delicate & striking, allowing you to escape into the music & the moment if you choose to, or redirecting your thoughts entirely as you witness this soulfully prominent voice delivering these unexpected lyrics.
A pretty explosive two minute song that offers quite precisely the audio representation of its implied concept. The beat, the melody, the togetherness suggested by the chant-like gathering of voices – it all points in the direction of strength.
Sometimes you forget how effective a well captured video can be in reigniting the fire of a mighty single. Seeing him perform this, the passion in his movements, his highlighting of certain lines & words – it really makes the song resonate even more so than before.
The rhythm of the song works really well in building around you something soothing. Elle Jae’s leading voice offers the effortless fluidity to carry the melody along in a manner that fits beautifully with the mood of the music.
Collegians have their own sound & their own approach to songwriting right now. Furthermore, their musicianship is right where it needs to be. A live show is the only thing that would better listening at full volume from the comfort of your own home.
There’s more than just freedom on this project, the very idea of punk holds the key to that anyway, but with these songs you get an element of provocation, and the Thelonious Monk aspect adds so much that manages to escape expectation.
Much more than a rapper, D.Ni.L is more rightfully known as an artist – his approach to music is purely creative & expressive, not seeking to be one thing or another, not purely rapping on top of easy to gather loops as so many performers in hip hop tend to do.