Infinite Sounds UK: EP Review: The Fall Back EP by The Good People and Shar the Analog Bastard

The Fall Back EP

The Good People & Shar The Analog Bastard

The Good People (aka Emskee and Saint) teamed up with French producer Shar The Analog Bastard (who also mixed and mastered the project) to release The Fall Back EP, way back in September of 2020. Originally released just on digital, it dropped at a similar time to AE Productions releasing Emskee’s Wall To Wall 12” single (which featured here in April 2021) and during that time it was arranged for AE to also release The Fall Back EP. It was also in September of 2020 that I first heard The Good People via the Cut Beetlez album, What Beetlez?

The EP was remastered for its vinyl release by Rola and then sent off to the pressing plant in June 2021. Due to the worldwide issues around that time that were created by a certain pandemic, it is only now that The Fall Back EP finally gets its well-deserved vinyl release through Bristol’s premier Hip Hop label, AE Productions.

So, for anyone who has not heard this yet and is considering buying this, and why not as it features guest verses from the legendary figures of Masta Ace and El Da Sensei, plus an appearance from Meraxx, who you might not be familiar with. So, join me as I guide you through this six track EP with, what is described as a classic SP1200 soundscape…

The A-Side of the EP kicks off with Drums and Piano, which are the basis for Just Begun, slick samples, cuts and horns on the chorus all combine to give this a laid-back head nod vibe that you just wanna sit back and chill to. This really feels like it is an introduction to who The Good People are and what they are here to do. There is very much a sense that is all about knowledge of self and using that, combined with a deep understanding of the world around you, to create music that is authentic and speaks from the heart to each and every one who takes the time to listen. Piano and xylophone notes, alongside some tambourine brings in When It Counts, then the beat drops and you are up and moving, bouncing to this. This one speaks on how The Good People and Shar got through 2020 with the help of creating music to uplift themselves and their listeners. The upbeat nature of this one really lifts you up and fills you with good vibes and that’s all I need to say. We end the A-Side of the EP with The Feel, which has this infectious jazz vibe from Shar, where piano, guitar and drums, all combine to keep you moving. Here, The Good People and Masta Ace really give you the feel that this one is all about how it feels creating good, real Hip Hop music but, more than that it is all about making the listeners feel that too. That sense of that feel good feeling you have when you’ve created something meaningful and you then put it across to your audience, who also truly feel it, comes across in this one and you feel it to the very core of your being…

Flipping to the B-Side, it kicks off in style with heavy drums and keys as Shar picks it up where he left off on the A-Side by keeping you moving and your head nodding. The feel-good factor is off the charts on Say N Repeat as The Good People and Shar make it upbeat for the streets, with a block party vibe that really takes you back in the days. This one begs to be on repeat when the summer days come knocking once more. The drums and that jazzy piano vibe continue on OK Then, which see’s El Da Sensei joining The Good People. This one takes on the all the fake rappers out there who are out there creating a negative stereotype for themselves and being their authentic selves. It is pointless giving yourself a name no one can understand and saying things that are not true, just because you think that’s what people wanna hear or because it’s what makes money. Sooner or later you will be like a flash in the pan, gone and forgotten unless you are prepared to open up the true you and speak on the reality behind the voice. The B-Side and the EP rounds off with At A Glance, Shar brings a heavy jazz vibe on this with drums, bass, guitars, keys and cuts, all merging to create a chilled head nod sound. Meraxx joins The Good People to bring you something that, might just say something different to everyone? For me this one felt very much like being stuck in a moment and each time you blink, you cast your mind to a snapshot of a past event, what’s happening around you now or even a possible future outcome. What it is really all about is living for you in the now, being your authentic self and doing the best you can to be the greatest expression of that true self, and that’s a deep message to end on…

What can I say about this one that is over and above what I have already said? Well, I have to start off by wondering how I missed this the first time around? Coming out at a time when the world was a truly uncertain place and people were walking around scared to be themselves, scared to even touch one another or even be social. We spent hours days staring at four walls wondering what the future might bring but, a saving grace for many was music and this EP really does have vibe that runs through it that is there to uplift and create feel-good vibes in everyone, with the kind of sound that makes you want to move, from just nodding your head to making you wanna bounce around, it has it all and coming towards the twilight of 2020, this would have been invaluable. Not that it has lost any of it’s impact in this current climate, that feel-good factor still does exactly what it is intended to do.

The Good People bring that real Hip Hop vibe to every bar on this one, it really has that golden era sound that reminds you of why you fell in love with Hip Hop. There is knowledge, experience and a desire to bring out the best in people and all through the medium of Rap. They use the kind of slick lyrical expertise that allows you to hear every word, regardless of flow and style, which means that you can truly understand and take on what’s being said. The appearance of Masta Ace and El Da Sensei helps deepen that golden era Hip Hop sound as they embody that era. That’s not to say that Meraxx does not, as his appearance is one of those that makes you happy that there are those who still hold firm to the real sound of Hip Hop.

Production on The Fall Back EP is solid and see’s Shar The Analog Bastard encapsulate that SP1200 sound that Hip Hop was built on but, also he weaves in these additional influences from Jazz and elsewhere that stamps his own mark on it. This sound really flows with ease from start to finish, giving the listener this experience that carries them along with ease as they listen. For we this was an inspired introduction to his work.

Also, a quick shout to the multi-talented Saint who also produced the artwork for the vinal release.

Overall, The Fall Back EP is one of those releases you listen to that hits you on a number of levels, Firstly, it has that real Hip Hop vibe oozing out of every beat and bar. Secondly, it speaks on real life while uplifting the listener with feel good vibes and lastly, it embodies the fact that real Hip Hop brings everyone together and is the epitome of us being one nation…

This is one not to miss…

The Fall Back EP is available digitally and to stream now (Links below) and the vinyl releases through AE Productions on 27^th Jan, so it's out today.

Huge thanks to Mr Fantastic at AE Productions for sending this one my way.

On that note,

I’m out, Peace.

Steve.

LINKS

Get the EP on vinyl from AE Productions here:

https://www.ae-productions.co.uk/shop

Get the EP From Bandcamp here:

https://thegoodpeople.bandcamp.com/album/the-fall-back

or here

https://shartheanalogbastard.bandcamp.com/album/the-fall-back-2

The Good People YouTube Channel: