Overview Effect
By
FR4NKIE
Overview Effect is the latest release from Manchester, UK
Grime artist FR4NKIE. This album is his sophomore release and will mark the
first time I have reviewed a full album from the grime genre. The album
includes features from underground artists including LPNoID, Illy From Da NW
Side, Cosmo Laurie, Trapson, Dizmack, Masovelli, and Manchester Hypes.
Production comes from Trolley Snatcha and promises to blend Road Rap and Grime influences
with such elements as Folk and Guitar music as a backdrop to showcase FR4NKIE’s
versatility.
Now before I get into the album it seems only right that I
detail some background on FR4NKIE for you. The Manchester based artist was
formerly know by the name XP Burstgang, and over the years he has achieved
international recognition for his contributions to the Grime scene. Alongside
collaborations with the likes of Mike Skinner and President T, his career has
also seen victories in Lord of the Mics and Red Bull’s Grime-A-Side. Although
his roots are in the Grime scene, he has also built a diverse discography that
spans the likes of Trap, Drill, and some genre-defying ballads. This latest
release draws on the experience gained throughout his career to bring a release
that has a well-rounded and mature approach to street music.
So, with that said, let’s get into Overview Effect…
The album kicks off with To Be Frank, featuring
LPNoID, the organ notes ease you into this one but, soon the heavy bass hits,
ramping up the energy but, retaining those organ notes which bring an eerie and
almost dark quality. This one see’s FR4NKIE taking us into the realities of
street life in the UK, hence the dark tone of the track, because there are so
many aspects of the street life in the UK cites that bring pain and violence,
all in the name of making money. With those visions of the stark reality imprinted
on your awareness, Brick In The Wall brings a sound that merges that
street beat mixed with the folk guitar vibe that has a reflective edge to it.
There is a touching element to this track which looks deeply at the struggles
of living in a society that is set-up to keep most of us down. In our desire to
be all we can be and to rebel against those who judge us, we often lose friends
and loved ones along the way but, it is their memories that often keep us
striving for more, rather than giving in and choosing to take that one step
that will make us fall. Next up is Simon Says which features Illy from
da NWside. Here the sound is back to that more classic grime sound with heavy
bass, but with a mix of guitar and electronic vibes that tweak your nerves,
just a little. The lyrics are delivered with more than a drop of venom and seem
to be a demonstration of lyrical prowess of both artists. There is also a heavy
dose of that street mentality and vibe here reflecting the reality of what many
refuse to see.
Another Day In Britain keeps that grime vibe but,
there are elements to the sound that really give this one a reflective air to
it. It’s the kind of focused sound that helps you pay attention to what is
being said, and here FR4NKIE has a lot to say; it’s a track that really mirrors
the voice of so many of us these days. It might just seem like this is just a
shot across the bow of the establishment but, more than that, it is the voice
of the youth, the voice of those who are unheard in society. This is the voice
that needs to be heard by those who refuse and chose not to listen. Janis
Joplin merges the heavy bass grime sound with some melodic organ notes,
which has the strange effect of making you almost just want to sit back, close
your eyes, and listen. There are elements here that make this one seem like a
homage to the late great blues singer. However, as you listen there is much
about FR4NKIE’s own musical journey here too and that could well link to the
inspiration of Janis. Guitars take the forefront on Benzema producing
this melodic and atmospheric sound that you can easily lose yourself in. This
one seems to flip the idea of the classic ballad as FR4NKIE brings us a track
which is seemingly focused on being the best, which is mirrored, metaphorically
speaking, by Real Madrid’s Karim Banzema and his achievement of winning the Ballon
D’or in football.
Walk Through Fire features Cosmo Laurie and Trapson
alongside FR4NKIE over a beat that has a more LoFi Hip Hop vibe with head nod
drums, bass guitar and a multi-layered sound that has a chilled quality. This
one really seems to take a look at the key experiences we have in growing up,
the kind of situations that shape and mould us into who we are, these
situations are not always easy but, we remember them and the strength they gave
us to get to where we are. With that retrospective vibe still present the sound
of rain enters our awareness with easy going keys, when the drum beat hits, the
sound still retains a chilled element for One Of Them. This one has that
ballad feel to it as FR4NKIE take us on a self-reflective journey that looks at
mental health and how we can be too hard on ourselves, which is very much a
result of our life experiences in growing up. The message here is really to
lighten up and be easy on ourselves, this way we can be more our true selves. Is
That You Yeah features Dizmack and Masovelli and has a more heavy bass
sound to it which is underpinned by synth and strings to provide a more
energetic vibe. This one was far more difficult to read as there was a lot of
reflective thoughts and visions of how people are treated but, there is also a
lot about striving to be better and believing in yourself.
We move into the final two tracks of the album with the
penultimate track Mess, featuring Manchester Hypes, this one has a heavy
bassline backed by electronic notes that play with your awareness, which works
well with the titles of the track. Living in an urban environment seems to be
getting worse and this track speaks on that by noting you see around you or
experience day-to-day in the cities. There is violence on the rise, rubbish,
pain and suffering all around, it’s a mess but, there is a yin and yang to
everything and its not doom and gloom but, it us that has the power to change
it. Moving into the final track, On My Own has guitar that takes the to
the forefront alongside the drumbeat. Once more there is a reflective vibe to
this one, which fits perfectly here with the deeply personal nature of the
track. FR4NKIE looks back over some of his toughest struggles and shows how he
work through these on his own by drawing on his internal strength to get him
through.
Firstly, I have to backtrack a bit here. Earlier, in my
intro, I noted this was the first grime album I would have reviewed But, after
listening to the full album it is clear that this is not just a grime album, there
are influences here from many genres including grime, Hip Hop, drill, trap and
even EDM, making this a cross-genre album that may very well appeal to many
different ears.
This was also a great challenge for me and was definitely
not the easiest album I have ever reviewed. There are some musical influences
here that are not genres that I ordinarily listen to, and I have never really
gelled with the likes of EDM, for example, it was just a challenge to immerse
myself in something different and find my own way to interpret what I was
hearing. It is clear from the many influences that FR4NKIE is an accomplished
artist who is more than able to mix up his rap styles and flows, using his
chosen wordplay style to great effect to convey his messages. The use of his
own personal experiences, some of which are deeply personal, gives this one an
authentic and relatable edge, something that will appeal to many people even if
the sound is not immediately to their liking.
There are some great features here and although none of the
names are familiar to me, everyone of them works well on the individual tracks
and alongside FR4NKIE. There are no points where anyone feels out of place, and
they all display their own individual and unique rap talent.
The production is solid and provides the perfect musical
backdrop. The wealth of influences really comes through here and shows an adept
quality by Trolley Snatcha that reflects someone who has collaborated with the
likes of Chase & Status and Flux Pavillion but, is willing to go beyond the
type of music that he would normally be associated with and produce some more
experimental work.
The title of the album, Overview Effect, comes from an
experience that is described by astronauts, while in space and looking back at
earth. Described as “a cognitive shift” and “a state of awe with
self-transcendent qualities”, you can see why this was chosen as the title as
FR4NKIE has put his experiences across life and the challenges of the working
class in the UK today into and musical trip that touches on such themes as drug
abuse and falling into a life of crime, alongside his musical journey and the
cross genre sounds; something which, to me, is as much a cognitive shift as you
can get in the underground music scene.
I definitely recommend you give this a listen, because I
know there are people who are gonna love this but, also, as much as it was a
challenge to me to step outside my normal box and listen to something
completely different, I would say give it a listen before you judge it based
solely on you own musical tastes, because you might be surprised.
The Overview Effect is released independently and is out now
on all streaming platforms.
My thanks to William from the BH.WAV brand for bringing this one to my attention.
I’ll see ya next time,
Steve
LINKS
Grab the album on Bandcamp Here:
https://fr4nkie.bandcamp.com/album/the-overview-effect
Link for streaming sites, socials and more:
VIDEOS
Another Day In Britain
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