Infinite Sounds UK: Album Review: Lost Routes by Conscious Route & True Note

Lost Routes

Conscious Route & True Note

Lost Routes is a collaboration between Edinburgh-based rapper, Conscious Route and producer, True Note. It was released back in October of 2020 and was noted as being ‘A powerful and personal contemplation on UK life in the 21st Century’ that ‘possesses more than enough bump to take the message to radio and the clubs too’ with a ‘a range of musical styles from hip-hop to grime and drum and bass, with tints of electronica and more’.

What I was also interested to note was that the album draws on some live instrumentation on some of the tracks. I have always felt that bringing live instruments to Hip-Hop and other urban music really gives it some extra depth and feeling. The live instruments are provided by the following artists ‘Trombonist Chris Greive from the Scottish Jazz Orchestra (‘Mash Up Days’), as well as KT Tunst’s drummer Cat Myers (‘Everything Test’). True Note himself brings keyboard and bass’. Alongside these talented artists the album also features guest vocals from London-born soul singer, Geoffrey Williams and also True Note himself.

If all this was not enough to whet your appetite for this one then it is worth noting here that the UK TV’s Channel 4 picked up three of the albums tracks for the documentary ‘Take Your Knee Off My Neck,’ a response to the killing of George Floyd, which shared experiences of racism as it delved into the issues around the Black Lives Matter movement. You can hear instrumental extracts from ‘Needles', 'Mash up Days', 'Cat’s out the Bag' and the full vocal version of 'Frontline' on episodes 1, 2 and 4.

All that said this album promises to be an impressive release so, let me take you through it:

The album hits hard from the word go, with True Note providing a pounding head nob beat over which is mind bending mix of synth and electronic vibes. Everything Test shows us exactly what Conscious Route is all about with a conscious and intellectual look at the situation’s life puts before him and how he handles the same. More than that this is almost a look at the man himself, which sets up the rest of the album. True Note next switches the vibe to a bass heavy, darker vibe with a more grime vibe for Needles to which Conscious Route switched his style and flow perfectly as he provides a social narrative that looks at the darker side of life and can almost be summed up by one line of the chorus, the powerful ‘Speech Does Wrong’ and as the past year or so has shown, words have the power to put fear into you or just the opposite.

What Music Means is the first album skit. Taken from an interview this short track shows many things that music can mean and with those meanings it can mirror or help change of feelings and emotions.

Awakening features Geoffrey Williams and has a more soulful production from True Note giving this a lighter and more thoughtful vibe. Conscious Route’s delivery mirrors the thoughtful vibe of the production as he provides a deeply personal retrospective on present and past events in his life with each verse framed by silky soulful tone of Geoffrey Williams chorus.

The N Word is short skit noting he does not use that word in his work and the response is to listen to a track on the album…

That track is Brothers which has a more grime, trap vibe about it and examines the use of the N word and what it means to him on many levels, the use of it in rap and touching on the politically`1 racism aspect. The track ends on a piano backed thoughtful vibe. Next up True Note brings that dubstep vibe with Dusty Days. Here Conscious Route looks at how those we put our trust in very often turn their backs on us, deceiving us for their own ends in another politically charged narrative.

Talking On Track is the next skit and here Conscious Route aptly explains how music is a place to be able to speak on the ups and downs of getting your life on track without the attached stigma of when you are open others directly.

The sparce beat, chilled electronic synth vibe and vocal samples on Cat’s Out The Bag creates an almost 80’s Hip-Hop feel, the perfect backdrop for a track which looks at the struggles of street life and having the strength to pull yourself away from a spiral of self-destruction and on to better things. The thoughtful trend continues to a piano driven vibe that holds your attention to a deeply personal journey through the ups and downs of growing up in Dem Days and touching on the struggles of mental health. A pounding heavy beat and deep piano draws you into a darker atmosphere of Life In The Rain. Here is a troubled walk through the pain of internal struggles, constantly turning corners and only finding the rain still falling but, one day you will turn a corner and find that desperately needed shelter.

Music, Food & Sex is a light-hearted skit that just looks at what is most important and the fact that these days the word ‘Porn’ no longer just refers to things of a sexual nature.

The sexual theme continues for the grime fuelled club banger Coochie Slug. A sexually charged vibe that leaves nothing to the imagination. The production is a more chilled beat and piano for Mashup Days which also features the Trombone of Chris Greive which creates the kind of soundscape that allows you to drift while Conscious Route takes you on a journey looking at Drug culture, mental health and more besides.

This skit about Music and Mental Health drops at just the right time.

True Note drops a full-on Grime heavy hitter that provides the perfect platform for Conscious Route to switch it up and give you a Proper Gander at his lyrical skill on a track that will undoubtedly light up the clubs or vibrate the windows in the house or car. Next up, True Note flips to a straight-up Drum n Bass banger putting Conscious Route on the Frontline to switch it again and display his versatility and MC skills once more. Time to chill things out a bit with a laid-back beat, organ notes, and some guitar thrown in for good measure all mixed up to bring you a smooth Hip-Hop vibe that puts you in the Fields Of Hope which sees Conscious Route paying homage to the culture of Hip-Hop in a way that is deeply heart felt.

Our last skit is a Reality Check that sees Conscious Route get deep into just what his reality is.

Don’t Call Me rounds the album off in style with True Note bringing some smooth boom bap Hip-Hop vibes to get your head nodding as Conscious Route flows perfectly over the top and speaks on many social aspects of life around him but, bring it in that upbeat style that brings a ray of sunshine to break through the clouds.

So, lets make no mistake here, that was some journey.

There are a lot of artists out there these days who are creating albums that display differing styles and flows that appeal to a fairly wide audience and Lost Routes is no exception. However, what True Note and Conscious Route have crafted on this album is not only something that will appeal to many as it wraps it arms around the urban music scene but, it also does it in a grown man style with intellect, knowledge and, at times, with sensitivity and respect. This album is like a thinking man’s rollercoaster where True Note creates and powers this twisting, turning track that rises and falls never quite allowing you to see what’s around the corner or over the rise. Conscious Route then puts the carriages on the track and moves you off into the void, here his words permeate your mind and form mental images and emotions which are constantly changing as you experience the music. You leave this knowing you will need to experience this again and again to fully appreciate it.

Lost Routes will definitely have a wide appeal and hats off to both of them. True Note and Conscious Route both display a proper versatility in differing genres here. They both compliment the other effortlessly as they switch pace and style across the 14 full-on musical tracks with those little skits just adding a little depth and pause. The use of the live instruments definitely adds an extra dimension to proceedings too. True Note’s production is slick and polished, showing that he has his finger on the pulse of what is hot with urban street and club music scenes. Conscious Route brings an intelligent rap style and touches on a host of political and social subjects that are reinforced with personal experiences showing a talent for switching pace and styles to compliment the production.

I am not gonna say that everyone will love every track, I’m also not saying that they won’t love them. I, personally, am not a lover of DnB or Dubstep. Having said that, there was nothing on this album I found unlistenable, and it all flowed really well from start to finish. There are also the skits, which not all people are keen on and many feel they detract from the overall flow. For me I can see how this album would flow easily as well both, with or without the skit’s. It depends what kinda ear you are listening with I guess as someone not truly listening to the lyrical content might find the skit’s a distraction, whereas someone with an ear for the depth of the lyric’s will get why the skits are there and not let them detract from their enjoyment.

Lost Routes is definitely one you need to give your time to. It is a confidently constructed album that is diverse and delivers on every level. If you have not heard this already then it is well worth your time and money.

Conscious Route has a new single out now titled ‘Father and Son’ alongside producer Tzusan. This is one of those tracks that you will need to get deep into over a couple or more listens. There is also an accompanying remix of the track with a slightly darker edge to it that has been remixed by Konchis.

Lost Routes is also currently receiving the remix treatment with a full remix album out later this year. That will be one you will definitely want to watch out for after hearing the original. So, be sure to check out those social media links below.

Lost Routes is released through True Hold Records and is available now.

On that note,

I’m out,

Steve

LINKS

Get Lost Routes from Bandcamp Here:

https://trueholdrecords.bandcamp.com/album/lost-routes

Check out Conscious Route and the album on Spotify Here:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/32lAj1AkvktWCm738XmiOM

Listen to the album on Soundcloud Here:

https://soundcloud.com/true-hold-records/sets/lost-routes-lp-radio-edit-version

SOCIAL MEDIA