The Witching
Tree
By
Unity and Zee
Rock
I last featured Unity back in January of this year with a
review of her EP Red and Blue (Bard Picasso). It is always good to review
something a little different and The Witching Tree promises that. For a
bit of context here is a few words on the release…
The project
is an experimental offering constructed using an array of samples, sound bites
and adlibs from many sources. The aim with this project was for a rough and
ready dusty lofi approach rather than a fully polished overall sound. Unity’s
lyrics grew from the name given to each track by Zee Rock as he was creating
them, and the project evolved into a collection of spells – the riddle and
rhymes brewed in Zee Rock’s cauldron. ‘The Witching Tree’ features cuts from
Zee Rock, as well as from Cardiff HipHop legend DJ Jaffa, and features Welsh
MC’s A Gent Orange and Luce Kanon, Tewkesbury’s Farai and an overseas
contribution from Hush (Philadelphia, USA).
Expect
intricate rhyme schemes, abstract lyrical storytelling, and a layered
soundscape of sampled vinyl deep from Zee’s crates. The project includes a tale
of twin aunties moving through a surreal cityscape, the afterparty, as well as
deeper musings about the world and our place in it on the opening and closing
tracks.
The pair
first collaborated on Unity’s debut release ‘Progress is a Process’ (Later) in
2020, followed by a track featuring Asha Jane ‘Four Leaf Clover’ on her ‘Garden
of my Soul’ project, and on a third track ‘I’m Alive’, from Unity’s ‘Diving
Deeper’ project (Bard Picasso, 2021), featuring Galaxy Sega who has created the
artwork and animations for ‘The Witching Tree’.
The
Witching Tree sounds
like an intriguing journey, so join me for the ride…
The EP begins
with Habitually, the first thing that strikes you is that raw, unrefined
sound that was the basis of the project. The heavy drum beat, and guitar vibes
are Records underpinned by these multiple layers of sampled sounds and
vocals. But the overall vibe you get from the sound here is deep funk, boom bap
one that gets the head nodding. Unity and Luce Kanon use their differing styles
to great effect here, Unity with her more spoken word style and Luce with a
full on high paced rap style, to weave a message that it is rooted in nature
and the spirits which abound there. This one really seems to be focused on the
self, the person you will be when you constantly do the same things over and
over again, especially within our current society and focused wholly on city
life, how people see you and material wealth. The message here is not to forget
the power of nature, removing yourself from habitual life and remember your
true self.
All The
Freaky People has a
melodic funk sound that sees a lo-fi drum sound mixed with bass, keys and more
intricate samples and sound bites. The overall vibe this creates has this
almost out-of-body feel to it, causing your awareness to float along to the
sound. Unity invites all those freaky people to the after party but, what kind
of after party is this? It’s a place where anything goes as you follow Unity’s
pied piper figure. This is an after party where Hip Hop people, walk barefooted
into the fields, baring their souls to the music, the art, and more; this is where
the true nature of your love of the culture and the sound will abound, and you
will come out the other side a changed person…
Twin
Aunties features DJ
Jaffa, Farai, and Hush, on a beat that has an infectious edge to it. The drums
and keys mix and complement each other creating the kinda funky sound you just
wanna move to. It’s hard to get a feel for who the Twin Aunties truly are? One
minute they sound like Cinderella’s ugly sisters, then in the next they seem to
be more of a reflection of our own family members moving through a cityscape
that is as far removed from what we see around us, as it is a true reflection
of the same. As you bounce along to the track, subtlety taking in the words,
you might find your self questioning your reasoning as you try figure out the
true nature of those Twin Aunties.
The final
track on the EP is Quiet Riot, featuring A Gent Orange, the drum beat
switches up a few notches, backed with keys and a subtle essence of strings, it
creates another infectious vibe that has a reflective edge to it. As you listen
to the words on this one, it seems to sink further and further into your
consciousness, encouraging you to look deeper into the world around you. For
me, it brought forward thoughts of everyday people who have grown tired of
fighting for their rights, the things that we should all be able to have, now
we turn that fight into a quiet riot that stews within our mind, body and soul,
while threatening to burst forth at any time but, only when the right questions
are asked does the flood of frustration and anger explode in tirade of emotion
fuelled words that come from the depths of our consciousness mixed with a
passion that asks why the powers that be do not listen and only seek to control
and amass personal wealth, while we pay their wages but, can’t even afford to
heat our homes or properly feed our families…
There is a lot
that The Witching Tree can elicit within you, the more you listen and
really feel the music and words. Your first listen might just make you feel the
sound and enjoy the ride, without thinking to much but, if you really choose to
feel the vibe of this one it will open you up to questioning the nature of the
world you live in.
Unity and Zee
Rock have really crafted something that might have that experimental and raw
edge to it, where you get the feeling that the words were crafted around the
music and then it was all poured into an etheric cauldron, where spells were
said over it and the nature spirits infused it with magical musical properties;
then the finished EP gives you an entertaining listen that has a quality all
it’s own, unleashing potent imagery in the mind that opens you up to another
level of the true power of music. Just because The Witching Tree has it’s basis
in Hip Hop music, does not mean that it cannot have a potent message on a more
esoteric level, that is the power of music, regardless of the genre you use, it
can help bring powerful messages alongside an enjoyable experience. The way
Unity and Zee Rock have crafted The Witching Tree, it has as much power in the
music as it does in the wordplay. Zee Rocks multi-layed soundscapes have a deep
rugged quality to them and this perfectly matches the depth and quality of
Unity’s clever and intelligent wordplay that is delivered in that, almost,
spoken word style that allows to hear every word. The Witching Tree truly
speaks to you on both levels of the music and words.
The addition of the guest
artists works perfectly with the whole vibe of the EP. Plus it also shows the
universal nature of Hip Hop and music. Music reflects the true nature of the world;
it has no boundaries just as there should be no boundaries between us who live
upon it.
The Witching Tree is out now
so, you be the judge of what it says to you but, I highly recommend you check
this one out.
Time for me to be out,
See ya next time.
Steve
LINKS
Get a copy of the EP and All things related to Unity Here:
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