Universal
Patterns
By
The Chameleon
It is not often that I get an album that piques my interest
from the description of what its all about. However, when I got Universal
Patterns by Newcastle based emcee The Chameleon (AKA Joe Robertson) the album
was described as a musical exploration into AI/tech addiction, medieval
knights, secret societies, numerology, spies, aliens and spiritual love, it
really did grab my attention. Not only that but, the album features some of the
UKs top producers and cuts from Jabbathakut, Fidel Cutstro, and Adika
Now, as this one delves into subjects, I have a personal
knowledge and interest in, I think the best thing is for me get straight into
it. There is a lot to get through here so join me on this deep dive into these twenty-four
tracks and a little over an hour of the Universal Patterns…
It all kicks off with Through The Mirror which is
produced by Remulak and has a very chilled vibe that comes with movie samples,
guitar and flute notes over a laid back beat. This one serves as an
introduction to the Chameleon and really just sets the stage, giving you just a
glimpse of what you are about to immerse yourself into. Replicate the Fabricant is next, with production from Ryan D who gives us an into from Blade Runner
before a proper head nod beat drops in with this background sound that almost
floats through your awareness and is almost juxtaposed to the beat, which
brings a vibe that has you on the edge of chill and bouncing. This one explores
the darker side of where technology is headed, from the way smart phones have
become the norm, to how advanced tech can be implanted under or even tattooed
onto the skin. It opens up the mind just where this might all lead. With all
that in mind Tech Disease seems to expand on that notion. Produced by Manage
the vibe has this heavy beat backed by guitar notes and cuts from Fidel
Cutstro, that keeps things flowing with a laid-back edge. This definitely takes
us deeper down the rabbit hole of how much tech influences how we live. This is
a world where you can use AI to write for you, create your art and even make
your video’s, and where the world some of us grew up in is quickly becoming a
distant memory as people relay more and more on their devices and the younger
generation rarely engage with the world around them. DJ A.D.S produces Virtual
World and brings this head nod beat over a mix of piano notes and more that
has this infectious energetic vibe to it. This one tackles things like virtual
reality, virtual worlds, and ideas like the matrix where digital technology
will become so advanced that you might be able to upload your consciousness to
a digital world and essentially live or exist for an infinite length of time,
an interesting or somewhat scary thought. Mechanical Movements is
produced by Ryan D with cuts from Jabbathakut, the sound has a heavy drum beat
with these eerie strings that tweak your nerves, just a little. This is more of
a skit that touches on AI, social media etc and really invites you to look
deeper and read between the lines in everything you do, and ask yourself why is
AI making such huge strides and why do companies want this to happen? Could be
to remove the human aspect from decision making and notions such as this? Think
about it and I mean really think about it…
Produced by Sam Krats, Visions of Hell brings a heavy
beat that is underpinned by this deep bass and an eerie sound seems to envelop
you. This one switches the narrative away from technology and on to one that
focuses more on secret societies and the clandestine activities of such. This
is the stuff that exists in a world beyond what we normally see, clouded in a
veil of secrecy that few of us will even penetrate but, it does exist. Ladder
of Destiny is produced by Mark Fear who brings a head nod beat that is
backed by a choral sample I have heard many times, and one which adds a deep
edge to the overall vibe of the track. Here we find the focus remains in the
cloak of secrecy but, here we find the narrative looks more at how science
seeks to dispel any talk of a higher spiritual power. However, all the while
those who cloak themselves in the veil of secrecy are engaged with these
higher, or lower, powers in direct opposition to the information they release
to general public. This is another area where we need to ask more questions and
read between the lines of what is being said.
Hozay brings a more funk injected sound for Beast and
Bunny, where the head nod beat is mixed with strings and a funky guitar
vibe. This one is short and switches the narrative of the album once more as we
find it is all about the beast being tamed by the love of a woman. Ryan D is
back on production for The Love Gravity, with bass and keys behind the
beat, giving this a laid-back funk vibe. Love is key in bringing balance to the
world around us and this one takes us deep into many ways that you can bring love
and balance into your life, something that you can’t avoid when you live around
Glastonbury. But however you chose to achieve it, bringing more love into your
life will change the way you see and interact with everything around you. Cosmic
Kiss sees Manage and Ryan D joining forces on production, alongside
Jabbathakut. The sound has a chilled edge to the first half of the track with
just the Piano taking the forefront, halfway in and the beat drops in with sax
notes that give the kind of sound you can close your eyes and drift off too. This
one is deeply emotive love song but, not one in the normal sence as this love
song speaks on a whole different level with cleaver and descriptive lyrics that
stick with you.
The Visit is a short instrumental piece produced by
Mr Slipz that seems to be almost a bridge between emotive vibes of the last few
tracks; then transporting you beyond the confines of this planet. We move out
of the atmosphere with DJ Nappa on production for the Galaxy of Mirrors
where a heavy beat, keys and xylophone notes transport us to a new level of
conscious awareness. Here we become embroiled in thoughts of time and space,
where quantum mechanics and theory open us up to new ideas that encompass travel
beyond what we know as now possible where the current laws of physics chose not
to go. With those mind-blowing concepts now anchored in our awareness Speed
of Thought takes that and runs with it. Ryan D’s production uses piano, sax
and drums to keep us focused while The Chameleon leaves the rabbit hole and
enters a wormhole that transcends spacetime and delves deep into what the mind
is capable of if you truly focus. There is also a side focus here which brings
in the subject of extraterrestrial biological entities, or Aliens.
Controversial to some but, a subject that is inexorably linked to our awareness
when we leave the confines of our planet and the 3-D construct. Talk of Aliens
and UFOs continues with Warrior Kings where complex lyrics and the
concept of planet earth being visited by UAP’s (Unknown Ariel Phenomena) takes
the forefront. The production comes from Wounded Buffalo Beats who creates this
head nod vibe that is underpinned by piano notes and has this vocal sample that
seems to speak to you on an unconscious level, just as another intelligence
might do. Out of Towners continues subjects of an out of this world
nature. Produced by Manage and Jack Diggs, this one has an almost unsettling
sound of drums and piano. There are almost too many things to pin down in this
one from Aliens and UFOs to the Black Knight satellite and beyond. This one
will have you mind in loops questioning what’s real and what’s not, and if
these things are real just what binds them all together?
Trinity Codes switches the narrative once more, with
production from Stu Tha Don and cuts from DJ A.D.S this one hits with a
pounding beat and a mariachi type guitar and vocal samples that have you moving
while listening intently to the vocals. This one seems to take us away from one
particular focus on the world around us and takes us within. It is almost like
we are listening to the thoughts of the protagonist as he sits and considers
much of his internal knowledge and where it will lead him next and what effect
that will have on those around him. As you consider what might come next, 9
comes forward to burst any notion that you might be able to string a cohesive
thought into something that will help you understand. The head nod beat from
Ryan D and cuts from Adika form this sound that you can’t help but enjoy; and
all the while you enjoy that beat these deep lyrics that explore many aspects
of the unseen world around us, sink into your unconscious awareness.
As the heavy beat and string infused head nod vibe from DJ
Nappa hit from Love and Valor, it is time to switch the narrative once
more, now we find ourselves drawn back through time to the realm of knights and
wizards. A realm that could well still exist in another dimension, a place
where the knight stands for all that is good and protects the land and its
people. Our journey to the land of myth and legend continues with Arthurian
Legend. This one is produced by Manage and has cuts from Jabbathakut.
Manage brings strings and etheric vocals over this pounding beat that gets your
head nodding. But there are no vocals here as this little instrumental makes
you drawn back to its title and has you dreaming, albeit briefly, of the
legends of king Arthur and the knights of the round table, something that is
always in your awareness around Glastonbury, a place that it often described as
Avalon. As your mind drifts into the mists of Avalon Hozay brings us an etheric
sound of choral samples, guitar notes and a hefty drum beat for the Rap
Crusader pt 2. Here the knights of old merge with the emcee to bring you a
new bread of crusader, one who uses their lyrics as both sword and shield,
while Jabbathakut slices the air with battleaxe cuts. This is followed directly
by the Rap Crusader pt 1, produced by Ryan D, with cuts from Adika and additional vocals from Jane Walker,
this one has the kind of beat that will have you out your seat, hitting hard
with huge energy. This one is both a prequal and a sequel to what has gone
before. Time to just sit back and enjoy, nuff said for now…
Hozay and Jabbathakut are back for Cloak and Swagger,
a pounding beat with strings gets the energy levels up and the heads nodding
once more. This one sees The Chameleon entering the world of international
espionage. This one will have you thinking of James Bond, Jason Bourne, and
more with no secrets safe as The Chameleon uncovers everything bringing it out
into the open for everyone to see. The penultimate track of the album is Present
Day, produced by Bay 29 and featuring Jabbathakut on the cuts, this one is
an instrumental track that has a heavy beat with a background sound that has a
gritty dark feel at times, while at others the piano comes forward to bring
calm. The track focuses on some of the subjects that are seen in the media
every day, from the war in Ukraine and the horrific situation in Palestine, to
global warming, these are some of the of what we see every day, things that
fill us with fear. The album ends with Hope, Rebirth and A Perfect Musical
Universe. Just the title alone lifts your spirits, and the uplifting sound
of sax, bass, keys and strings gives you that sense of hope and rebirth across
the first two minutes; the following two minutes bring this piano track that
forms the background to the vocals, a sampled narrative on music and what the
perfect musical universe might look like. Now I’m not going to say I know who
wrote this piece but, it does touch you and leaves you pondering that notion
long after the track has ended.
With everything I have just written, how can I possibly sum
up this album? Firstly, I can simply say WOW, because this album is packed so
full of knowledge and information you could easily make two albums from this
and it would still have the same impact. But, let me try and say just a little
bit more…
Lyrically I found this to be extremely good because The
Chameleon has a solid vocal style, flow and his wordplay are spot on and the
way he incorporates the subject matter and complex descriptive narratives is,
quite honestly, superb and being able to hear every word of this is truly
something. Not only are some of these subjects the kind of esoteric stuff that
many don’t like to speak about but, here he packs so much into this album its
just mind blowing. I did like the way that each subject matter is grouped in a
way that you could split them into little EPs and they would still work. The
grouping might seem a little strange at first but, as you listen there is no
effect on the flow and the positioning of the tracks about love and knights and
strategically positioned to break up some of the heftier subjects so as to not
overload the listener. It is still a marathon listen but, it has to be well
worth it in my mind.
The production on this one is also top notch and you can
probably see that from the names of the production credits. It just works so
well in matching the vibe of each track and keeping the overall flow of the
album working. There are all those little movie extracts and things that also add extra depth to the narrative of each track too. I don’t think I need to say much else production wise, it just
that good.
Also great to see a wealth of cuts on this one too.
Jabbathakut, Adika and Fidel Cutstro, all do a cracking job in adding that
little extra depth to those tracks they feature on. It just brings that real
Hip Hop vibe to life.
There is stuff on this album that I could talk about for
hours as I have personally researched a lot of it in the past and it is always
good to see someone willing to bring those subjects to life in a way that is
enjoyable on a different level. Everything on the album is what you can
encounter in day to day life, some of it is more sobering while much can be
uplifting but, what is important here is that by bringing this stuff to you
through the medium of music, allows you to enjoy it in a new way or, just enjoy
it for being music, you do not necessarily have to immerse yourself in the
subject matter, although I suspect that many people will find themselves
looking up a particular subject after listening.
For me, this is one that has to be heard to be believed and
understood. It is a deep dive beyond the normal and there is nothing wrong with
that right, plus it makes you think and that is a good thing.
Universal Patterns is out now.
I’ll see you next time.
Steve.
LINKS
Grab you copy from Bandcamp Here:
https://thechameleon1.bandcamp.com/album/universal-patterns
All the Streaming links you need are right Here:
Socials:
https://www.instagram.com/9thchameleon/
https://www.facebook.com/joeythefixer
VIDEOS
Tech Disease
Speed of Thought
Rap Crusader Pt 1
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