Gallus Alliance
EP
By
Damaged Goodz
& Onra The Bastardian
There is no doubt that Damaged Goodz is consistently putting
out some top-notch Hip Hop. For this new EP he is collaborating with producer
Onra The Bastardian for a Scottish French project that mixes Hip Hop and Grime
influences with some epic soundscapes.
These guys share more that just a passion for Hip Hop as
both were the frontmen of crossover Punk/Metal bands, so this promises to be a
very interesting musical journey and one that I might be hard to even
anticipate…
So, why don’t we just open our ears and our minds and see
what the Gallus Alliance EP brings us…
Opening with some big ballet orchestral notes, it is not
long before a solid boom bap beat drops in and immediately grabs your
attention. The appearance of DJ Zeeny on the cuts is also no coincidence as
both he and Damaged Goods are both huge Manchester United fans which fits
perfectly on this track which is a homage to controversial football star Cantona.
Love him or hate him, there is little doubt he was a talented sportsman who did
things his own way and was good at what he did. This also mirrors Damaged Goodz
standing within the Scottish Hip Hop community and makes for an interesting
secondary meaning for the whole track.
Next, we move to a fictional story with Glasgow
Kiss/French Kiss. Set around a bar brawl between three men all vying for
the affections of one woman. Damaged Goodz plays the part of the three
individuals whilst Becca Star plays the woman who is caught in the middle.
Musically the track has some huge orchestral strings and horns alongside
pounding drums and that hint of a grime influence which perfectly reflects the
violent nature of the storyline in a situation that is senseless as no one
really wins.
We move to a more retrospective sound which is created by a
head nod beat over some keyboard vibes. This gritty sound perfectly mirrors the
lyrical content here as we are taken on a ‘coming of age’ trip. Damaged Goodz
takes us back to the 80’s and 90’s where he grew up on the Castlemilk estate,
then one of the toughest in Europe, which was often referred to as Chateau
Lait by outsiders. You get just enough in this brief insight to transport
your mind to what it must have been like to grow up in such a place and the
indelible make it leaves on a person.
The final track of the EP begins with a soulful piano that
is reminiscent of DJ Shadow’s ‘Blood on the Motorway’, when the beat drops it
leans towards the grime style, creating this sound which grips you heart and
mind. L’Amour Or Less see’s Damaged Goodz take on the role of narrator
and onlooker while Becca Starr gives a stunning performance as the voice of
reason or solidarity on a track which looks at the gut-wrenching subject of
domestic abuse against women. Across three differing situations and levels of
abuse this track takes a deeply emotive look at situations that are so often
hidden from view but can so easily affect those closest to us.
This was one of those times I was sent something with no
pressure to review but, after listening to it the first time I felt compelled
to review it all the same. The sound and lyrical content is such that it makes
an immediate impression on you at a deep level.
Here we are presented with four tracks, four different
stories and four different vibes which all have one thing in common, and that
is that any one listener can easily associate with on a personal level. From
the trials and tribulations of growing up, to football, music, and nights out
that don’t end how you had expected, we have all been there and many of us
might well know someone who is a victim of domestic abuse too. There are all
stories grounded in reality.
Damaged Goodz once again brings his skillful story telling to
bear on a number of different subjects. He mixes up the flow and style to
admirably create storylines that you can instantly engage with and visualise.
The subject matter is all highly emotive, containing a wealth of personal
experience. Even when focusing on a fictional storyline you get this feel that
is something he has seen before and is just using artistic licence to make it
move vivid for the listener. The addition of singer Becca Starr is nothing
short of genius as she brings a stunning voice to those two tracks, filled with
a deep emotional feeling that allows you to understand exactly what her
character is going through.
Onra The Bastardian brings some next level production to the
project. This deep mix of urban music and huge orchestral soundscapes really
does create some colourful musical backdrops for each track. It absolutely
brings a new level of definition to each track where you begin to feel the
message in each on a whole new level, it’s just masterful.
The Gallus Alliance EP is a stunning accomplishment that
hits all the right buttons. It is great entertainment that also hits you on a
deep level and leaves you feeling like you have just had a great night out, a
broken heart, walked into a brick wall and had a cold shower all in less than
twenty minutes.
So, my humble advice is simple, get this and have a proper
good listen…
The Gallus Alliance EP is released on 20th August 2021.
Huge thanks to Damaged Goodz for sending this one over.
Steve.
LINKS
Damaged Goodz on Bandcamp:
https://damaged-goodz.bandcamp.com/
Onra The Bastardian on Bandcamp:
https://onrathebastardian.bandcamp.com/
Cantona Official Video
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