Masks of the Morning Son by Frisco Boogie - Album Review

 

Masks of the Morning Son

By

Frisco Boogie

Album Review

 

Masks of the Morning Sun is the debut solo album from Nottingham emcee Frisco Boogie. He has been releasing projects since 1993 which have either been solo or as one half of the duo Lost Island (Son Records).

The album displays the fact that Frisco Boogie as multi-talented when it comes to his music as he produces, writes, and arranges everything except the contributions by the guest artists. He has also spared no expense here dropping an album that is a full 18 tracks deep.

 

With that in mind, let’s straight into it:

The album kicks off with Sonrise, the piano and violin give this track a very haunting vibe and that feel is matched by Frisco’s lyrics that look at music, the world and the self, and the search light among the darkness. The second single taken from the album is Jailbird, the laid-back percussion vibe gives the track a more uplifting vibe for subject that looks at being caught in the cell of your own mind and the realisation that it sometimes easier to want to escape than it actually is to escape those confines. Jazzy horns and a head nod beat pull you into Another All Nighter, here Frisco looks at burning the candle at both ends just to keep the bills paid and a roof over your head. The soulful chorus adds that dreamy half-asleep feel to the track, something many of us know only too well. Rise & Shine is short skit that acts as a aural pallet cleanser and features the soulful voice of Mr Go Get Yours.  

 

4EVA brings that boom bap vibe with a chilled orchestral element which is the perfect backdrop for a track that looks at the one special person in your live and what makes her the one. Keeping it real life a stunning piano vibe and a beautiful chorus takes us into a deeply personal look at the loss of your mother on Broken Skies, the struggles and the pain of an experience that life cannot prepare you for and the ultimate realisation of how we grow from that. Switching it up here with the heavy hard vibe of 60 Seconds which is all about having one last minute and what you would do with that minute. Time to kick back for a few minutes with the first single from the album, Wonders featuring G. Geroso. This chilled out track takes a look at the many different wonders that have and still do exist all around us and they affect us and the soulful chorus just adds to that feeling that there are so many wonders out there big or small.

 

The piano heavy vibe of Graveyard of Guns brings a deeply thoughtful vibe as Frisco Boogie looks at gun violence in a different light. Guns are and have been used by many different people for many different reasons, good or bad for personal or political reasons but, whatever the reason they are used to take a life, human or animal but, the question is do the guns rest in peace? A melodic piano over a heavy pounding beat is the stage for Frisco on Spare Change, a track looking at homelessness and how money, something that has no actual value itself, causes so much misery for so many. Frozen Flames drops with a deep moody string laced vibe. A short track which looks at the fact that if you want the rewards you must put the work in, because without it you won’t go anywhere. Choral voices ease us into the head nod vibe of Who Do You See? This one seems to look at how people around you only judge you for your looks and actions and rarely choose to know who you really are behind the external. A heavy beat , horns, electronic keys and a healthy dose of cuts is a wicked back drop for Getting’ Up, which is all about graffiti and getting your name up.

Iconz features TWR DVN, J Littles and Shortee Blitz and looks at the challenges of being a name in the game and looking at those we have lost. A solid banger with some uplifting string elements carries you along as you remember those names and the inspiration they brought. Time to take a moment out with the laid-back piano heavy vibe of Be Thankful, a short track with Frisco inviting you take a moment just to remember the things your truly thankful for. You OK Now? is a head nod beat with a piano element running through. Another deeply personal track looking back and remembering after the loss of his father. Way Back keeps the vibe of reminiscing going, as Frisco takes us back to the days of way back, growing up, over an upbeat banger with piano and flute elements. Taking us out of the album is 47 Summers which features Kam Rahmoun. This has a more modern trap kinda vibe to it. A laid-back piano heavy vibe guides you on an other personal journey looking back over internal struggles and how it challenges those around you, how they see you and the ultimate outcome when you wake up and change your life around.

 

There is no doubt that this album is one of those that takes a long hard look at life and the personal experiences of the artist. For me, this kind of deeply personal journey is important in these current times. They can be helpful both to the artist and the listeners. Here you have an experienced artist pouring their heart and soul into a musical journey through some of their rawest emotional experiences. There are so many moments across the album where it oozes emotion which, in itself, must be cathartic. For the listener they get this deeply emotional journey  which may help see that there maybe things they are experiencing themselves in their own lives which they now realise they are not alone in dealing with and it may help them take their first step toward a brighter future. I felt there was a deeper message here that no matter who you are and what mask you chose to wear for the world to see, it is important to remember that you are not alone and there are those out there who will listen so, don’t be afraid to speak out.

For me, there was nothing I didn’t enjoy about this album. The production was excellent, verbally it ticked all the boxes, showed superb wordplay and a desire to have every word understood. The whole album flowed well from start to finish and there wasn’t anything that felt like it was put there just to make up the numbers. The subjects tackled were diverse and showed a strong character not afraid to open his heart.  

Overall, Masks of the Morning Son is a solid and strong debut solo album. There are elements that are deep, emotional, and uplifting that so many will find enjoyable but, at the same time be able to associate with on a host of different levels.

Masks of the Morning Son is available to buy and stream now.

Huge thanks to Frisco Boogie for sending this to me.

Peace Out,

Steve

LINKS

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Masks of the Morning Son on Bandcamp:  

https://friscoboogie.bandcamp.com/album/masks-of-the-morning-son

 

 Masks of the Morning Son on Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/47wkMG00KRt1OFczEGndvo?si=hvSg6JjDT6yaOjnsfTnGIw

 

VIDEOS

Masks of the Morning Son - Advert

 

Behind the Mask - The Final Journey

A look at mastering the album

 

Jailbird - Billy Biznizz Remix

Not on the album