Merge The Schools
By
Wurrd Jenkins
Album Review
Straight out of the Coalmine Wastelands of Scotland, Wurrd Jenkins s one third of the Shadow People alongside Nunny Boy and Nity Gritz. This latest release is the second in a trilogy of albums that began with Bardic Inspiration Dice, his debut solo release which saw him exploring life as a younger version of himself during the Golden Era years and the kind of music he played on his Walkman (A portable tape player for anyone not familiar). Merge the Schools is the sequel to that debut and continues to explore his love of Hip Hop growing through his teenage years. Here he uses breakbeats, sampling and electronic influences to give the listener a ride through how it was growing up and experimenting in those times.
As someone who was transitioning between teenage years and early twenties at this time I found this idea of exploring those times through Wurrd’s own production to be an interesting prospect So, let me take through the album and lets see just where it did take me.
The album kicks off with he intro and title track Merge The Schools. It features The Flying Boys and is produced by Nunny Boy. The track has a nice almost tongue in cheek feel and the slide guitar sample gives the whole thing an almost Caribbean feel and you can just picture waking up to this on a summers day, sun streaming through the window and your in your teenage years getting pumped up for the day ahead. Then the clouds gather a little as Ain Brainz brings a slightly darker but, definitively banging Hip Hop fuelled track with an edgy piano vibe, produced by Nity Grtz, that sees Wurrd Jenkins exploring the life of those stuck in their own mundane lives, living each day the same with no inspiration and no drive to anything more. Almost as a complete contrast to the mundane Baw Breakin’ is produced by Wurrd himself and is a breakbeat heavy track with an electronic underlying vibe that creates a raw energy that almost shreds your nerves and creates a perfect platform for this battle rap style delivery exploring the culture and the breakbeat.
Apocalypse Party as an almost mind-numbing feel with a simplistic beat that is produced by Nity Gritz and looks at the trying to make the bast of bad situations in life but, not just on a personal level, you could quite easily apply this to the current worldwide situation, are we just making the most of a bad situation as everything crumbles around us or is there light at the end of the tunnel? Growing up back in the days many started out making music in simplistic ways and Nix Yin, the single lifted from the album) has an almosy 8-bit feel to it that takes you back to early 80’s computer games. Produced by Wuurd Jenkins this one has a gritty nerve grating feel to it with a hard, lyrical delivery that is all about making it through each day. The drum heavy sound of Oan and Oan brings back the boombap vibe. The head nod sound of this one will keep you moving, almost hypnotically, as Wurrd Jenkins displays his lyrical wordplay skills. Talking of keeping you moving, Coal Rad Soul has that vibe about it too with Nity Gritz golden era production with a nice funky guitar loop to boot. Wurrd paints an audible picture all about the music.
HWMNYUNTS screams in puts you in mind of the days you might have had one too many and this is exactly what this one is all about, How Many Units will it take you? Nity Gritz production and Wurrd’s lyrical delivery make you really wonder if this is what the alcohol fuelled mind is like with the heavy beat and mind shredding vocal samples, you be the judge. Moving into the penultimate track Wurrd takes us to an alternate universe as an alter ego of Baron Von Mockit. Wurrd’s production is full on Head nod hip hop with an electronic vibe running through it which its perfectly as he spins some almost mind bending lines which transport you to a dream land, or is it really that or reality? Wurrd Jenkins stays on production for the final track Flee Soothe. Keeping the heavy banging beat boombap style with the kind of lyrical style that slaps you about and leaves you wondering just what that was and not just that but, ending on a whole host or shout outs is the perfect way to end.
As a bonus here, the single of Nix Yin came with a Nity Gritz remix which saw a spaced-out vibe brought to the track and gave it a nice chilled out almost jazzhop vibe.
Overall, I felt that the album did a decent job of creating that vibe of those years. The times when you have discovered your musical direction and are beginning to live it in your own way. Also, there is that element of not having all the cares and responsibilities of adulthood and you are moving through the experiences of life, the kind of experiences that mould and shape you into who you are going to be. The fact that this comes from the mind of Wurrd Jenkins is a nod to the fact that his experiences and how he weaves them into the album creates this musical journey anyone can relate to.
The mix of production styles, wordplay, and lyrical delivery here are a credit to Wurrd Jenkins and all those involved. It is an innovative and highly listenable experience that captures the gritty and raw feel. Some of you might well take a few listens to really grab the essence of the album but, I suggest you stick with it as it is worth it.
The concept of a trilogy of albums that can all be listened to back-to-back in one sitting is something that will keep you wondering what the next, and final, instalment in the trilogy has to offer and where it might take you in terms of musical sound scape’s.
Credit here also goes to the work of fellow Shadow People Nity Gritz (for his production) and Nunny Boy (for his production and cuts) on the album. It goes to show what you can achieve when you have the right chemistry with the right people by your side and as these guys have worked together since 2008, it shows that they have that uncanny knack of getting the best from each other.
Merge the Schools is out now on all platforms and I highly recommend you also check out Bardic Inspiration Dice so you can check the first instalment.
Check below for the links,
Peace Out,
Steve
Wurrd Jenkins Bandcamp: https://wurrdjenkinsuk.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3usZWPdXR34IWy7WWLl9cH?si=ESczYWFzT4-IJFfhgz9fyQ
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/napperchapper
Instagram: http://instagram.com/scottthenapperchapper
Twitter: http://twitter.com/napperchapper
YoTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCamv8zbi82uvVGg7VwCyAmg
NIX YIN (OfficialVideo)
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