Album Review: End Of The World by Sublime Wizardry

 

End Of The World

By

Sublime Wizardry

It’s been nearly ten years since we last heard from Sublime Wizardry and twelve years since their last LP was released. But now two of the original members, Remark and Merlin, have reunited to bring that unique blend of European and UK Hip Hop back, and if they are back then you can be rest assured that they have something to say…

The new album is entitled End Of The World, which seems pretty apt right now, in light of what is happening around the world. The album is self-released, like most of their back catalog. Now, anyone who is familiar with their previous releases will be eagerly anticipating this one so, I’m not gonna keep you waiting, let’s get into it…

The album is fifteen tracks deep and kicks off with Welcome In The End which serves as the albums intro. But there is no easing you into this one as Merlin creates this mind-bending sound that has a foundation of a drum beat but, over this is this twisted mix of sonic sounds and more, which serves to give it a somewhat dark and unhinged vibe. Remark brings some almost spoken word lyrics that do nothing to alleviate the impact on your mind. But this is all about puling no punches and exposing the true reality of the world around you. With your mind literally ripped open we dive straight into the first single released from the album, Man Bites Dog. Big orchestral notes and piano frame the heavy boom bap style beat getting you nodding your head as you are drawn to Remarks vocals. There seems to be a lot here about the misdirection that is put in front of us every day, how the powers that be utilise the media to twist the narrative to their own ends; to justify their evil agendas. You need to raise your own energy above this to help you understand what’s going on and to see it for what it truly is. With your mind opened up you begin to see where this is taking you and so we move on to the Archons, where we see a huge energy shift as Merlin brings a huge sound that takes the drum beat and places strings and horns over it, he then mixes in some sonic vibes that once more twist your awareness beyond the 3D world. This one appears to take a look at the armies of the world, those who march into battle but, we see that in so many conflicts these armies are made up of ordinary people who are thrust into horrors of war to protect what they can from the power hungry. These conflicts feel less like wars and more like the satisfaction of a blood lust for money and power.

Fall Down sees a proper drum beat merge with some big orchestral sounds and piano to bring us a vibe that injects your veins with a hit of adrenaline. This one looks at the fact that those who perpetrate the lies and twist the truth to their own ends, will eventually fall from all they have built up around them and will shown for what they truly are. Drums and sonic sounds merge and intertwine on Shadows In The Dark, creating the kind of vibe that has you constantly looking over your shoulder. Remark brings an almost spoken word stance here as he opens up about the one place where few chose to look. That place in beyond darkness of closed eyes and into the world of our own shadow side. This is something few do but, when you do confront and work with your shadow side, bringing balance to your true self, the benefits are beyond what you might think. You just have to find the courage to face it within yourself. Merlin brings another mind-numbing sound of drums and electronic sounds on Face The Fear, where he also brings in some eerie piano to further stretch your already frayed nerves. Remark speaks directly to your soul with lyrics that seem as twisted as the sound but, the message is simple here, the one way to escape the constant barrage of negativity that is thrust before you everyday is just to face that fear head on. The more you do this the cloak of deceit will fall away and you will be able to see the truth and live that truth.

The Serpent and Dove has this huge organ sound over the drumbeat, this gives way to synth vibes which gives this one a sound that is straight out of a John Carpenter movie. The serpent and dove and the very definition of good and evil, truth and lies, war and peace, and that seems to be reflected in remarks lyrics here where its all about the battles we all face between what is right and wrong as we walk the journey of life. Piano and synth vibes bring us into Allies and Enemies before the beat kicks in and the energy ramps up. This one is a natural progression from the previous track, another aspect of the light and dark sides of life, where things can change so easily, and we so often do not see the truth of who is who but, by walking our paths in the light and coming from the heart in all we do, makes it so much easier to understand who stands with us in the light and who stands close but in the shadows. They Got Em hits with a heavy sound that has this heavy drum beat over which is this multi-layered sound with piano, electronic vibes and so much more. This serves to raise the adrenaline levels once more as the guys take a look at tyranny and democracy. There is little you can say about this one but, it goes on around us every day, the governments use lies and the media to control us, keeping us exactly where they want us, in a place of perpetual fear, where they look like the only saviours.

Crazy Shit twists your mind with a heavy beat, heavy horns, sonic sounds and eerie vocal samples. This might seem like the weird part of some messed up movie but, really this one is just paralleling how our minds get stretched to the limit by what we see and what happens around us. It feels like everything is spiralling out of control and everyone is losing their minds or perhaps they are simply giving in to the sheep mentality? Who knows what the truth is but, it takes a strong heart to find the peace in all this. Thunder, heavy drums and bass alongside sonic sounds, bells and more form the soundscape of Bang On, which will have you bouncing no doubt. For me, this seemed to say a lot about always speaking your truth no matter what. There might be no one listening to what you have to say but, it is important that you continue to speak that truth because it is the essence of who you are. The minute you lose your truth, you become one of the sheep, so keep banging on because sooner or later, the truth will out. Reality or Fantasy sees the guys bringing more truth, and here its all about what situation we choose to live in? Do you want to live the reality of the 3D world or in a fantasy world, maybe similar to the matrix, where nothing is real. Our own reality might be harsh and difficult for us to navigate, at times but, at least we have a say over how our journey plays out. The fantasy world might seem that way too but, it is more likely to be a controlled environment where you will never have control over anything. Which one seems more appealing…

A huge mix of pounding drums, orchestral notes and guitar note creates this heavy soundscape that almost blows you away on Dark Riders. It took a minute to grasp this one but, it really speaks on the futility of conflict and war. The dark riders are those who bring war, death and destruction, where no one wins; even those who appear to win are left with the indelible mark of what they have done, something that lives with them always. The albums penultimate track is also the albums title track, End Of The World. The beat, organ sounds and orchestral sections, bring a slightly uplifting vibe that eases the weight of what has gone before. The message here is no less potent that the rest of the album, it just delivered in a way that sums up the calm before the end. This one is like a summing up of what has gone before, making peace with everything before you let it all go, watching the sun set one last time as the human race all but passes from existence. Even at the end there is a glimmer of hope that a new life will rise and perhaps we are Still Breathing; this one serves like the outro, leaving us with one last hope. The drums are heavy, alongside organ notes, sonic vibes and the sound of a Geiger counter clicking. There is a sense here that nothing has truly ended, and this is a final ode to what has gone before and a hope of what is to come.

 

The return of Sublime Wizardry brings us a dark vision of a world inhabited by a dying race. A race that has killed itself through greed and self-destruction. Only those who were truly awakened to the truth were able to survive and be the seeds of a new hope. That is exactly how this album seems as you progress through it. The main thing here is not sugar coat the reality of what is going on in the world around us. It is about being honest that the few will always seek to control the many through a self-centred greed of wealth and power.     

Yes, there is a sense that all is not lost and that there are those who are waking up to stark truth of the reality we live in. People who see it for what it is and are looking for ways to bring balance back to our society and the world we live in. Because it is not just the human race that needs saving but, the natural world too.

Sublime Wizardry brings a dystopian future to bear on End Of The World both through Merlin’s deep and at times, dark soundscapes that create all sorts of visions in your mind as you listen. Then Remark brings his own conscious lyrics forth, creating a description that is only to real but, that stark reality and those visions are almost softened into the background at time as his vocals seem to create a vibe that is juxtaposed to sound and the content of what you hear. It is like an elder is telling these stories to a youth who are going to be the new race and the harsh stories must be given with a sense of ease to soften the blow as it were…

End Of The World is a solid album that will elicit many different emotions as you listen. The impact of both the vocal and production is intense and almost brings a new edge to the notion of conscious Hip Hop.

End Of The World is something you need to hear and Remark and Merlin have brought Sublime Wizardry back with an insightful and pounding impact.

End Of The World is out now.

My humble Thanks to Remark for helping me bring this one to you.

 

See you next time,

Steve

LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://sublimewizardry.bandcamp.com/album/end-of-the-world 

Sublime Wizardry Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100024269809312

VIDEOS

Man Bites Dog

 

 

 

 

 

EP Review: Kemz The Alchemist by Kemetstry

 

Kemz The Alchemist

By

KEMETSTRY

 

Kemz The Alchemist is the latest EP from Yorkshire based emcee Kemetstry, who has previously featured on the blog with his single Astral Plane and the Kemez The Atlantean EP. Kemz always brings a mix of musical vibes and deep lyrics that bring together personal experiences and a wealth of knowledge of ancient civilisations, particularly pre-egyptian, and spiritual essence.

Kemz The Alchemist is nine tracks deep, which is the kind of track number that many albums now have, featuring eight tracks and one remix and there is also some heavy weight production and features along the way to look out for. So, lets no mess about and get straight into this one…

The EP kicks of with Dickhead, produced by Illinformed it has this heavy drum beat over xylophone notes and keys to bring you vibe that has you sitting on the fence between this realm and the next. Here we find Kemz drawing on his own experiences to bring a stark focus the kind of people who talk and act like they know everything but in reality, have no real understanding of anything around them. Kemz pulls no punches here and is quite blunt in what he says but then sometimes it just needs to be that way. Next up is Too Bad Mind, which is produced by Jack Danz who brings us a grime vibe, mixing drums and heavy bass vibes with some eerie keys and strings. This short track gives just enough airtime to those who give out negative vibes around us. This is kind of energy that, if we give it enough attention, will bring us down and stop us from achieving our goals. The world is full of negative aspects and with the first couple of tracks bringing that into our awareness, its time to switch things up with Anubis (5 Star Generals) Posse Cut. This one is produced by Krimson and features Flowtecs, Jibbarish, Kg Chi and Menace Mendoza, alongside Kemz. The beat plods along with just enough pace and these nerve shredding keys, to keep you focused. This allows the lyrics to take over and take over your mind as each of these emcees produce the kind of lyrical wordplay that captivates you, while unconsciously laying seeds in your mind that will have you questioning the impact of this one across your entire timeline… 

Fuck Boy is produced by Alchemy and brings a more chilled vibe to the album with drums and keys. Is full of street stories that, at first thought, might make you think this is all about being derogatory to women? However, after a few listens you begin to realise that a story about man who has been treated poorly, in the past, by women and who now treats them poorly as a result. This is not something I might personally agree with but, the point here is that when people are treated bad, they will often become what they most hate and therefore continue the cycle and people continue to be hurt and abused. The message is to recognise the cycle and to break it, becoming the better person. After such intense thoughts there needs to be a change and Spirit Vs Ego, produced by Krimson, brings a more laid-back vibe of drums and keys that promises that change. Kemz looks at the difference between what comes from the Ego and what comes from the Spirit; this is very much an internal struggle where it is so easy to let the ego win out and take over as it is usually the easiest route but, the spirit will bring the most positive and fulfilling rewards, maybe not the easiest path to tread as it takes dedication but, it will make you the better version of your true self. This brings what is almost a revelation, as Kemz helps us to see past the ego and focus on the spirit, which leaves us open to the Light Beings (Five D). With production from Alkemy, it also features Kilo, the drums and organ notes bring a more uplifting sound that puts you in touch with your third eye. This one is all about looking beyond the 3-D world and recognizing we are light beings experiencing the 3-D world but, when you look beyond the world around you and becoming more in touch with your true self, you realise you are a light being on a whole new vibrational frequency, and that realisation opens you up to a whole new way of being and understanding. It’s definitely something to think about…

We move into the final third of the EP and the penultimate original track, Connect With Ya Soul features Verbz and is produced by CLXCKWRK. The sound brings more xylophone notes alongside horns and bass, over a chilled drumbeat, this brings the kind of sound that gets your head moving but, also keeps your mind open. The message in this one follows perfectly from Light Beings as its all about looking deep within yourself to get in touch with your true self, the very soul of who you are. If you can get to this point it will allow you to keep you focus on your goals and to bring those goals to you but, it can only be achieved by facing your shadow side and then allowing you to truly see the light. The last of the original tracks is Consequences which is produced by the legendary Farma G who brings this deep sound mixing strings and guitars over this head nod beat, the result is a vibe that makes your entire body tingle. Kemz speaks on how all our choices have consequences and so it is important to make the right choices in all we do. Sometimes the right choice brings the biggest lessons to us, this happens in order to help us make the right decisions further down lifes path. It really is than simple, you just have to have an awareness, an intuition that will help you make those right choices. The final track of the EP is Dickhead (dnb Remix). Now, I have already given you my take on what this track is all about but, what does this remix bring to the track? Produced by Ziggy Ostas the sound has a far more sonic sound and ramps up the energy levels. There is also a remix on the vocals too with Kemz verses having a slightly different focus here, being a little grittier and looking more at street violent and how this affects us, among other things.

 

Once more Kemetstry brings us an EP that mixes the darker aspects of life with a more spiritual side that promises to lead us away from the negativity and darkness and back into a more positive and lighter path. There are references to Kemet, this was the ancient name of the land which would become Egypt and Kemetism is an ancient neopagan religion that follows those ancient beliefs. It is no wonder that these references feature so vividly as Kemet forms part of his name. This brings a whole new viewpoint to how we see the world around us and the spiritual aspect of our deeper development.

Kemz The Alchemist does not force you to take on a new belief system but, simply invites us to view the world and life around us through new eyes. What is also interesting to note, that much of what Kemetstry notes from this new viewpoint is that much of what he opens us up to is not just limited to Kemetism but, is something that is apparent in many different belief systems, and the fact that these messages keep coming to us, regardless of our beliefs, must make us sit up and take note…

So, whether you chose to think of the deeper aspects of the EP or not Kemz The Alchemist is a highly enjoyable listen and one that encompasses different musical tastes with intelligent lyrical content that is delivered in a way that shows that Kemetstry is one of the UK’s most insightful underground rap artists.

This one is well worth checking out and might well give you something to think about in the process.

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve

LINKS

Get the EP and all links for Kemetstry Here:

https://linktr.ee/Kemetstry

VIDEOS

Consequenses ft Farma G

Too Bad Mind ft Jack Danz

Album Review: Mirtazapine Dreams by Dotz & DJ Goblin

 

Mirtazapine Dreams

By

Dotz and DJ Goblin

 

It was in 2016 that I first got my taste of Dotz with the release of his Bring The Soul Back EP which featured Blak Twang, Tony D, Wordshiff Flip, Blizzard, Skrabl, Peterz and Jabbathakut, which I managed to grab a signed copy of at the time. But he has been active on the UK scene since 2012, releasing a number of solo and group projects which includes the Phili’N’Dotz album alongside Si Phili of Phi Life Cypher. Alongside tours of the UK and Europe and collabs with the likes of Chester P and Klashnekoff, he is also a seasoned veteran of rap battles and a freestyle champion.

Following a few years away from the scene, Dotz returned at the end of 2022 releasing a string of singles and two solo albums. Mirtazapine Dream is his second release of 2024.

There are a couple of versions of this album and the one I’ll be reviewing here is the Deluxe Edition, this has an extra six tracks over the standard version which give you all the tracks originally recorded for the album. The concept behind the album is that one of the side effects of the drug Mirtazapine is that it can give you very vivid and intense dark dreams; it was through his own personal experience of this that Dotz got the idea for album, that and the beats provided by Goblin which also served to further reflect the vibe of those dreams.

Now you have some idea of what to expect, let me walk you through the album from top to bottom…

It all begins with Information For The User where percussion, keys and xylophone notes come together to create this sense of being in a half awake and drowsy mind state. As you are carried along on this mind-numbing ride you are treated to the information about the drug Mirtazapine, its uses and side effects but, the vocals are also given this twisted sound that matches that drowsy, drug induced state of mind. We join our protagonist staring at The Ceiling, as the drug begins to take a hold on his reality. The beat is heavy but doesn’t have blistering pace, while the ticking cymbals tweak your nerves and everything else seems to lose cohesion as does the mind. There is no sugar coating the facts here as the daydreams haunt his every waking moment and he seeks to separate himself from the world around, where possible, as he clings to every aspect of the real world. The beat switches up bringing a straight up banger on Charlie Sheen. The xylophone and guitar notes add an extra edge which seems to bring a moment of clarity from the haze of the drug. Here find Dotz going all in and pulling no punches as he details the struggles with drugs and getting clean, just like the actor Charlie Sheen.

A pounding beat and eerie background notes that seems to include wooden xylophone, once more grabs your awareness and twists it for the Twelve Steps. This one continues the struggles of going through rehab and the realisations that come with that as you look back at your past and the person you once were, and now struggle to keep from your door. Ten Four hits with another heavy drumbeat, pounding your awareness while background vocal samples and percussion begin to stretch your understanding of reality. Here we take a look at the protagonist from the outside as he tries to claw his way back from the brink, all the while he wonders if his calls for help are falling on deaf ears, as he wonders if it is all really worth it. Everything in Sight hits with a heavy sound of drums, keys, vocal samples and more, making you feel like your brain is about to explode from your skull. As the world around him closes in the protagonist relapses in extreme style, seeking to burn down all that is around him as he tries to shut out the noise.

Guitars and proper heavy beat combine to raise your adrenaline levels on Red Rooms. This one takes you deep into the murky world of the dark web. Here we find ourselves immersed in a places where anything that is illegal takes place as the norm, where anything can be brought or sold and nothing is off the table. The pounding drums fall slightly to the back as heavy eerie piano vibes take the forefront. This brings the kinda sound that has you looking over your shoulder, constantly with Haunted. Here we find the protagonist struggling with all he has done, haunted by the ghosts of those he has crossed paths with and the situations he has found himself in but, can he truly trust all that he sees and feels? Souvenirs brings another look from the outside in with a sound that is a mix of drums, keys and bass vibes with little accents that tease your mind. Here we follow a serial killer, his acts and the souvenirs he gathers as a result. Is this person out protagonist or is this just another disturbing dream?

The Dark Passenger (Interlude) brings us a short musing over an electronic sounding vibe that carries us along as we listen to the words through what appears to be a drug fuelled haze. Those words seem to have a deep impact as you feel for him and wonder just where this is heading. But those thoughts are blasted from your mind as the pounding drums, keys and strings of Raise Your Guns burst forth. This is a no holds barred look at what is going on around the world as wars ravage the innocent as those in a place a power seeks to stir up hatred and take land from others. Land they say is theirs, when in truth, it belongs to no one, and one day the innocent will raise up and say no more. Walk The Plank is the first track to feature DJ TMB on the cut and brings us a solid beat that is joined by these sounds that twist your mind this way and that. Our protagonist’s mind is seemingly spinning out of control as his grip on reality appears to further slip away but, as we already know, the drug creates these strange dreams and this is just one of them, right?

I Don’t Wanna Talk About It brings more nerve-jangling electronic elements to proceedings over the drumbeat. This gives you the vibe that something is being help back, almost like there is this uncomfortable feeling about certain things. As you listen you get the feeling this is another moment of clarity, to a point but, here there is a realisation of not being comfortable in his own body, and with that comes a desire to not open up and not be completely honest because it’s too painful. The beat hits hard on When It Rains It Pours, with guitar vibes, this one has a more thoughtful or reflective edge to it. Here you get the sense that the clarity continues as Dotz muses over recovery and building up all that the hard time tore down, while recognising that there is still a voice that craves the solace of the drugs but, here and now the strength to rebuild is stronger. DJ TMB features once more on Otis Driftwood. The sound here has that proper drumbeat mixed with piano notes and other elements creating a sound that anchors you back in reality. Well, at least that’s how it seams at first. The track features elements from The Devils Rejects etc, where the character of Otis comes from, this gives the track takes us back to the disturbing dream aspect of mirtazapine once more as it interacts with the reality of life.

Nothin’ Here’s Free brings a more boom bap feel to the proceedings but still has an eerie electronic vibe to it too, making you wonder what reality you are currently in. This one is a gritty look at the fact that as we go through life, the one thing we can’t escape from is the fact that nothing is truly free, Beit our existence or our survival, the only time we will be truly free is in death. A sobering thought that stays will you until Subplots bursts into your ears, with its pounding beat, electronic elements and DJ TMB’s razor sharp cuts. as you nod your head to this Dotz assaults your ears with the realisation that everything is not what it seems? Just when you think you have nailed what this is all about there are more subplots to that you in another direction as he constantly keeps you guessing from line to line and bar to bar. Nerve jangling piano draws you in before the heavy beats drops for Screaming In My Sleep. This one is deeply personal expose of what this mirtazapine dreams can do as Dotz opens up on some of the things that he sees beyond the veil of sleep while his wife tells him that her reality is to hear him screaming in his sleep…

A pounding drum beat with double bass and a nerve tweaking electronic note repeating is the basis for Bon Nuit (French for Good Night). This sound makes you wonder what the connection is with a good night sleep. The more you listen, you realise that mirtazapine dreaming rarely gives a good night’s sleep. It’s almost like, saying those words elicits a fear response because you don’t know what the night will bring when you close your eyes. The pounding beat of Straight Down Hill is backed by more of these nerve and mind twisting elements that can’t help but, draw you through the track. This one is a no nonsense at the how the standard healthcare model is to use drugs to control and suppress the struggles that so many of us face day to day. It is worth more than investigating the root cause because big pharma makes those drugs a big investment for GP’s etc, where as counselling does not make money but drains it. So, it is easier to get you to pop another pill. We move into the penultimate track of the album with The Chase. The head nod drumbeat is flanked by bass and nervous keys which create this sound that gets your head nodding while systematically shredding your nerves, to a point. This one mixes the dark dreams with thoughts on his music, where you begin to wonder where the line is between the two. Here though, its all about the chase, whether it comes within the dream or back in reality, chasing your dreams and reaching the top. The final track of this mammoth Deluxe Edition is Mr Misfit and Dotz and DJ Goblin go out on a high with this upbeat sound that mixes a dope beat with piano elements and more creating an infectious sound you want more of. The upbeat nature of the sound appears to be in contrast to Dotz Lyrics which see his dreams trying to seep into real life like some nightmare on elm street type thing. Its all no punches pulled and in your face style but, remember its all just a mirtazapine dreaming story, right…

What becomes apparent after listening to this album is that this is one hell of a rollercoaster ride through a reality that encapsulates many strange and deeply disturbing experiences that seem to be uncontrollable once your eyes are shut. But also, there are times when that sense of a distorted reality drifts into the real world, which must be troubling, in itself. But what better way to express what that is like than by bringing those lived experiences into musical form, thus expressing the true nature of what it is like to experience Mirtazapine Dreams. I can imagine this being quite a cathartic thing to do, and something that must help release the troubling nature of experiencing these dreams night after night.

All that aside, one thing that Mirtazapine Dreams does do is to perfectly display the quality of what Dotz and DJ Goblin are capable of together. There are no guest artists on the album, except for DJ TMB on the cut, and no guest production either. This is simply one emcee and one producer doing their thing and doing it superbly well I might add.

Dotz brings his years of experience to bear on this one, and not just his years of musical experience either. He brings first hand knowledge of what it is to experience and live with this and this adds authenticity to the whole project. His wordplay is inventive and crafted in such a way as to keep everything flowing. His delivery on this one has a raw edge that is tinged, at times, with displays of a wide range of emotions, something you can only get when you have truly lived through something.

Alongside Dotz, DJ Goblin brings production that perfectly mirrors the essence of what it must be to experience these Mirtazapine Dreams. The sound is rooted in that Boom Bap Hip Hop sound but, there is this dark element that reflects the way dreams can be experienced what that does to that person on a physical and emotional level. I mean, what else do you need to say here.

Overall, this is an album that may not appeal to everyone due to its stark reality and the fact that there are only the briefest of glimpses at any kind of solace. But this is an album that is aimed at bringing a focus and shining a light on what it is to experience the side effects of a drug that is administered to combat the effects of such things as depression. Yes, this is an enjoyable album and one that you really need to listen to but, more than that this is a reality that many people experience on a daily basis as they try deal with their own mental health. I understand this as I spent many years on different anti-depressants with different levels of side effects. So, I commend Dotz for having the strength to use his own lived experience to bring this into the light.

The Deluxe Edition of Mirtazapine Dreams is available now on streaming and there are also physical copies of Mirtazapine Dreams available too.

Think I need a break after that,

I’ll see ya next time.

Peace,

Steve. 

LINKS

Grab your copy from Bandcamp Here:

https://dotzilla.bandcamp.com/album/mirtazapine-dreams-deluxe-edition

Your one link for Dotz Music:

https://linktr.ee/officialdotz

Dotz Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/officialdotz/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004574954574

Your one link for all things DJ Goblin:

https://linktr.ee/djgoblin

VIDEOS

Haunted

I Don't Wanna Talk About It

The Chase

Twelve Steps

Charlie Sheen

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

Single Review: Tittyshaker by Analog Mutants

 

Tittyshaker

By

Analog Mutants

 

It’s always good to have the Analog Mutants here on the blog and this new single is no exception. This is also the first single from the Analog Mutants not to feature DJ Grazzhoppa as there are no cuts on this one. Production comes from DJ Snafu and vocals from Phill Most Chill.

Now, there is a little bit of a story behind the beat and title of this one. I was struggling a little bit with certain aspects of this one, and although I had an idea what this one was all about, I decided to ask Snafu for a little bit more. The sample comes from an obscure genre of music called Titty Shaker. This form of music from the 1950’s is hard to define, as it is mainly instrumental but usually with a single word chorus. An example of this would be the track Tequila by The Champs. This is a form of music that was widely used in the strip joints of Vegas and also in Go-Go dancer shows, hence the genre was coined as Titty Shaker. Snafu found a sample he loved the most and turned it into an instrumental called Tittyshaker and then sent it to PMC who crafted his lyrics around the beat and its title.

Tittyshaker has this upbeat funky vibe which features guitars, keys and horns, this brings an infectious sound that injects movement into your body and brings a huge smile with it. This fits perfectly with PMC’s tongue-in-cheek lyrics that are not only reflect the title but, also serve as fun filled ode to the female form, actually one certain aspect of the female form that many of you reading this, have a certain attraction to!

This one is definitely an energy filled track that is one of those just for fun sounds that everyone enjoys bouncing to, and this is definitely one of the clubs. As it will undoubtedly get everyone up regardless of your take on this.

However, it would be amiss of me not to mention one thing, which is that the genre of Titty Shaker music is built on the objectification of the female form, and this will mean that there are some people that may well not like this for just that reason. Now, like it or not, there has been a lot of the objectification of the female form in some areas of Hip Hop music and other genre’s. I do not support this objectification but, after giving this one several listens, it is obvious that this definitely has that tongue-in-cheek aspect and is not written to promote the objectification of the female form but, more just celebrates one part of the female form that makes a woman, a woman (I say that with the greatest of respect to all Women). Plus, there are more than a few men out there who could quite easily shake their own titties too!

The B-Side to this one is the Tittyshaker (Mod Edit) which takes the track and strips back the vocals to give you a sound that more closely matches the original genre of music leaving just the bare bones of PMC’s chorus as the vocal part.

Overall, Tittyshaker is another banger from the Analog Mutants that with have everyone grooving, proving that you can take any obscure genre of music and turn it into a banger. DJ Snafu does a great job of doing just that here, finding something truly obscure and bringing it into the now. Plus, PMC gives us the kind of infectious lyrics that just match the vibe of the production, both of which flow so well and are choc full of energy, fun and more.

Now, whatever you may think of this one, it is definitely one to have a listen to and make up your own mind to, and you can’t ignore the fact that its infectious vibe will get you moving in some way shape and form.

Tittyshaker is out now on Nobody Buys records, with the vinyl versions selling like hot cakes (They are probably sold out by the time you read this).

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab a copy from NBR Bandcamp Here:

https://nobodybuysrecords.bandcamp.com/album/analog-mutants-tittyshaker-mod-edit

Analog Mutants Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/analogmutants/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076861993571

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdmQVsflTXTcN48kfC5pPFA

Nobody Buys Records Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/nobodybuysrecords/

https://www.facebook.com/NobodyBuysRecords

VIDEOS

Tittyshaker

Tittyshaker (Mod Edit)

 

 

 

 

Album Review: Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol. 2 - Beats By Dweller Side-B Mixed by DJ Simon C

 

Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol. 2

Beats by Dweller

Side-B Mixed by DJ Simon C

 

It was about eighteen months ago when a reviewed the first Golden Ape Beat-Tape from Dweller on the Live From The Groove label. That release featured a collection of some of the UKs finest underground beat makers , plus a B-Side that was seamlessly mixed by the legendary Jazz T.

Now Live From The Groove is back with the second instalment, the Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol 2. This time around the collection of beats all come from label founder Dweller with Side-B being mixed by the labels own DJ Simon C….

That said, let’s get into it…

Each side of the Beat-Tape is nine tracks long and a little under 25 minutes in length. The A-Side kicks off with Misguided Adventure, which has a proper funky head nod vibe that really comes alive with this double bass element that vibrates through your whole body as you groove to the sound. What It Means follows with drums, keys, guitar vibes, flute and more, all coming together to give you a sound that keeps you moving. This one has that kind of vibe that would not see it out of place on a soundtrack of movie or TV series that has an inner city setting or similar. Next up is Chop La Disco which brings this awesome funk fuelled sound that mixes drums, strings, piano and guitars into the kind of sound that has an infectious feel to it. The infectious funk vibe continues on Beam Me Up which has this wicked drum beat over which is this eclectic mix of piano, organ and electronic vibes that picks you up and has you floating off into space. Now you are suitably floating off, its time for North Stars to have you transcending into another dimension with this futuristic beat and electronic vibes. Taking you far away as you allow the sound to permeate your awareness. Without warning the vibe changes with Grubby Luggage, here the sound has a more boom bap feel with a solid beat and funky bass sound that brings back from outer space to get your head nodding once more. Now you suitable grounded once more, Slow Motion Thinking brings a lighter sound with flute, keys, guitars, and a more chilled beat. This one would almost have you chilled right out but for the occasional high paced beat elements that just about keep you in the moment. The penultimate track on this side is the only one to feature a vocal sample thus far as the intro to Pick The Right Way. Here the beat is heavy with electronic elements which seem to fit with the notion that picking the wrong way will take you on a downward spiral to place you don’t want to be. You end this side immersed in a place where you get A Word In Your Ear, one which is full of strings, drums, and cymbals. The sound has this head nod element but, also this vibe that has a more thoughtful edge to it, the kind of sound that fits perfectly when you are in a contemplative mood.

It is now time to flip over to the B-Side where DJ Simon C is about to test the minds of the listener, especially the reviewer who has no idea of track length going into this, with nine beats being perfectly and seamlessly mixed from start to finish. It all kicks off with Cryptwalking, with a heavy beat, bells, keys and more, this one does give you the sense of slowly walking forward, with no real direction and with one eye cast over your shoulder. The beat changes slightly as we move into Flat-tops, where big orchestra horns take the forefront alongside a solid head nod beat. Once more you get that kind of soundtrack vibe before heavy strings join the sound. This carries you into Waterfalls, where the beat and guitar vibes unite with Piano elements to bring this upbeat sound that makes you wonder, what would a waterfall sound like if it had a musical element as is cascaded over your body, and perhaps this is it. The Piano vibes continue with Gut-Wrench which has this Lofi sound that, I have to say, does put you in mind of how you feel having had some gut-wrenching news; carrying you along where you are almost in a daze. Just as you are wondering where this is going, Shot In The Dark drops in with a pulse pounding funk sound that has this awesome uplifting sound with this funky guitar element that puts a grin on your face once more. Sycamore Style kind of drifts into the flow with a drum program and horns that give you a sense being at speed but, also floating at the same time, just like a sycamore seed as it falls to the ground, spinning rapidly while floating slowly on the breeze. Crom’s Lament comes in with a recognisable sample that has that soundtrack vibe to it, alongside heavy drums and cymbals; all of which put you in mind that something big is coming and this is almost the calm before the storm. It is either that or this is the sound of someone coming to terms with their past as their final journey awaits them. Whichever it is there is this emotive edge to this one that conjures up many things for the listener. You won’t be waiting long see what the impending sound was foretelling as The End Of The World is soon upon you. Drums and keys create this deep sound, one that continues that emotive edge, touching you to the very core of your being and making you wonder if there is anything more to this journey; that question is soon answered as Shake The Colours almost explodes into your awareness, instantly pulling you back to the present moment. The upbeat sound of drums, xylophone notes and horns give you an instant adrenaline hit that makes you realise that there is not just a silver lining to the world around you but, that music is the gateway to a brighter future, you just have to let it in…

I have to say that, bringing myself back from this one was a huge task as instrumental music gives me free reign to interpret things however I want and, looking back over my words, I could rewrite this one totally differently if felt like it and even go on for a few more pages yet but, I have to give you some overall impressions, or perhaps I just did…

There are few things that strike you when you have given this a good listen or two, the first of which is the diversity of Dweller’s production across these eighteen tracks. Yes, you can feel that the foundation comes from that boom bap Hip Hop sound but, there are some great elements of other sounds, genre’s and more mixed into each one of these; showing the calibre and an insight into just what he is capable of as a producer. The emotive nature of these tracks really allows you to go anywhere with this one and the fact that it leaves you on a high note means that no matter how you are feeling when you put this one on, it will leave you on a more euphoric note once you get to that last track.

You can’t sum up this one without taking a good look at the B-Side too. DJ Simon C expertly mixes these tracks together, keeping the vibe going all the way through until that last explosion of sound and inferred colour. His addition of cuts across the whole thing also adds depth and keeps that foundation of the Hip Hop sound alive while giving you food for thought without pausing to consider just where the music is taking you; it’s just one long journey to enjoy.

For me this a cracking release that shows exactly what Live From The Groove, Dweller and DJ Simon C have to offer. The Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol 2 takes things to a different level from Vol 1 and proves that they are true silver backs of the UK Hip Hop scene.

The Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol 2 is available now and is definitely one not to miss, also make sure you check out the recent review of MNEA ; The Future Introspective EP which is another outstanding release from Live From The Groove

My thanks to Dweller for giving me the chance to bring you this one.

I’ll see you next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Get your copy from one of these links:

https://www.livefromthegroove.com/

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/album/golden-ape-beat-tape-volume-2

One link for all things LFTG:

https://linktr.ee/livefromthegroove

Live From The Groove Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/livefromthegroove

https://www.instagram.com/livefromthegroove/

VIDEOS

Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol. 2  Side-A

Golden Ape Beat-Tape Vol. 2  Side-B Mixed by DJ Simon C

 

 

 

 

EP Review: The Future Introspective EP by MNEA

 

The Future Introspective EP

By

MNEA

 

It was back in July 2023 that I reviewed the debut, and now sold out release ‘End Of Your Era’ by Collective MNEA. Now they are back with the hugely anticipated The Future Introspective EP which keeps the core of the label artists from Live From The Groove but, adds in new features along the way.

The Future Introspective EP sees Dweller on production, mixing and mastering duties. The artwork and design come from Tuff Draft Design alongside artwork concepts by Ethr82. With such a wealth of artists involved in this one, I’ll give you as much information as I can in the review. So, sit back, keep your mind open and join me as I take you through The Future Introspective EP.

As the initial release for the EP is on limited edition vinyl, with streaming coming only once the vinyl is gone, I’m going to refer to side A and B as I go along. The EP kicks off on the A-Side with Look Forward which features King Kashmere, Enlxsh and Dweller, with cuts coming from DJ Cuban Jon and DJ Simon C. The beat is heavy getting your head nodding as soon as it drops; under this beat is an almost eerie sound from keys that grabs your attention enough to keep you focused on the lyrics, while the cuts slice through your awareness with laser like precision. This one looks toward a possible dystopian future for the human race, where we have these dreamscapes put forward by the emcees, each one giving us a bleak look at what’s to come in a future that might be a lot closer that we truly realise. With those bleak thoughts still so raw in our minds, it’s time to Free My Mind with Jess Edie on vocals. The sound eases the anxiety of a bleak future with a vibe that takes you back to the days of Bristol’s Massive Attack or, more recently, the neo-soul of O.Love. Jess brings us a stunning vocal sound that calms the most stressed nerves as she opens up on what she will do to free her mind from all the struggles and strains of life. Now suitably chilled out, its time to join Dweller, Enoch and DJ Simon C for the Rapture. Organ notes and horns mix with an up-tempo drum beat that gets you bouncing once more. This one kind of mixes the definitions of the word rapture in to one track as it brings you that sense of euphoria, teasing you with aspects of looking back at what has  gone before and then looking forward to the start of a new journey; in a way that is uplifting and bringing optimism to the forefront. Side-A is rounded off with Hurt, featuring Laura Vane, this one combines bass and piano as the main elements that give this one a deeply soulful vibe but, with a funky edge. Laura brings this powerfully soulful voice that captures every part of your being as she brings forth the fact that no one can get away from the fact that there are aspects of life that with hurt us. We can do our best to avoid and ignore what’s happening around us but, sooner or later we have to face that facts and it will hurt…

 

With Side-A ending on such an emotive note, it gets you wondering as what Side-B is going to bring. You don’t have wait long as Life’s Many Questions brings a feature from Scrabble and sound that this jazzy funk vibe to it with this mix of drums, keys, guitars and more. Scrabble goes off on this one juxtaposing everything you think might be the answer and whisking your thoughts into a whirlwind, all in the space of a single verse. Still leaving with no real answer to life’s many questions. Next up we find MNEA reworking the track Loose Tongues by indie funk band The Stash Collective. This one features SimpleSamples and Kansul with cuts from DJ Simon C. The sound is heavy with a pounding bassline that gives this one a head banger vibe that will likely have you punching the air. The title of this one describes the track perfectly as its all about letting their tongues loose and spitting forth the kind of bars that have you buzzing from top to bottom. The midpoint of the B-Side brings you The Most Wonderous Part Of Your Life as Conbel Evrence, on co-production, helps bring you this chilled out interlude of laid-back beat and organ notes that takes you to the point of being so relaxed you just want to float off to this one for the rest of the day but, this is MNEA and you know that is not about to happen. The penultimate track of the EP is the Free Your Mind (Extended Mix) which features guest appearances from enlxsh and UK DMC finalist 2024 DJ Rasp alongside Jess Edie. That same neo-soul vibe is here once more, only this time you get a lot more of it and you really feel how that deep bass vibrates your entire body. Enlxsh adds this deep verse that mirrors the sentiments of Jess and is all about looking deep inside to unlock what will truly set you free. DJ Rasp brings the kind of cuts that take your breath away, adding another element to superb extended version. The final track on the EP is the Hurt (Algo Remix). Here we find that Laura Vane’s stunningly powerful vocals and message remain the same, but the huge change here is the DnB sound of the remix. This one turns the tempo up a few notches, which you might think would change the vibe of this one far too much but, the increase in tempo is just enough to keep the message working while taking the track to the kind of level that could well make it a huge club banger. While DnB is not my cup of tea normally, this one actually sounds quite good and does work very well.

 

Now, I’ve kept the descriptions relatively short here but, there is a lot more that you could say about these tracks but, sometimes it’s just not needed. MNEA and Live From The Groove have done a cracking job of dropping an EP that, firstly, is as long as some albums can be these days; secondly, they have experimented with a host of different vibes and sounds that take you on a true audible rollercoaster ride. What this shows is that MNEA are not just your normal run of the mill Hip Hop collective, but they are here to bring good music from whatever genre fits the bill. So, the foundations of the sound might be in Hip Hop but, what you do get from this one is that MNEA are a collective that truly want to stretch the boundaries of their musical influences and by doing that they are going to open the listener up to a sound that you can never anticipate one hundred percent. That is especially apparent when you consider that outside of the core label artists, you will never know who might feature and the vibe they could bring.

It is actually very hard to sit here and know exactly what more I can say about this EP. It is one of those things that kind of speaks for itself and you are just going to have to listen yourself to know what feelings it is going to elicit within you.

Every feature on The Future Introspective EP brings their own energy and a diverse range of styles, flows and vocal dexterity. From Rap vocals to Soulful sounds, this one has something for everyone to enjoy and I have to say that I enjoyed every minute of it.

With all that talk of new paths to follow and new beginnings on The Future Introspection EP, has made me feel I’ve said enough here and so it’s over to you give it a listen and see how it speaks to you.

This one is out soon on a limited run of 100 vinyl copies. One randomly selected pre-order customer will also win a USB stick with the entire back catalog from Live From The Groove and some exclusives too. There will also be CD, Cassettes and a couple of concept canvases available too that are hand painted by Ethr82.

Digital release will follow once the vinyl is sold out. So, don’t sleep on this one.

My humble thanks to Dweller and all at Live From The Groove for giving me the chance to drop this exclusive look at the EP.

 

Enjoy and I’ll see you next time.

Steve

LINKS

Live From The Groove Website and Bandcamp:

https://www.livefromthegroove.com/

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/

Live From The Groove Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/livefromthegroove

https://www.instagram.com/livefromthegroove

https://www.youtube.com/livefromthegroove

  

 

 

Album Review: Universal Patterns by The Chameleon

 

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:

https://linktr.ee/jr465

Socials:

https://www.instagram.com/9thchameleon/

https://www.facebook.com/joeythefixer

VIDEOS

Tech Disease

Speed of Thought

Rap Crusader Pt 1

Album Review: S.T.A.R.V.E by Cappo

 

S.T.A.R.V.E

By

CAPPO

 

This review was originally written for the September Issue of the Killa Tapes Magazine. It is amazing to think that my reviews are being featured in physical magazine. There are not many magazines out there right now and it was reading magazines such as Hip Hop Connection and others that were part of the inspiration for me to do what I do now, because I wanted to do reviews which expanded on those short reviews and gave an insight from the point of view of a person who might buy and listen to the music. Anyway, back to the review...

Way back in the early 2000’s I became aware of a highly rated album by a UK emcee called CAPPO. This album, Spaz The World, quickly became hot property and one of the must haves of the time. So, to have the chance to review his latest work for my first review contribution in Killa Tapes Magazine is something special.

Cappo was born and raised in Nottingham UK and originally began his Hip Hop journey as a Graff writer. He also began rapping from an early age and by the Mid-1990’s getting noticed with his first proper show coming in 97 at the Nottingham carnival. His first Demo ‘First Knight’ came in 98, closely followed by the self-produced and self-financed ‘The Cap Tape Vol 1’. After getting noticed by SON records Cappo had a few released via the label before his first solo album ‘Spaz The World’ came on the Zebra Traffic label in 2003. Since then, he has become a legendary UK emcee, with a string of releases under his belt, the latest of which ‘CANON’ came in 2023

S.T.A.R.V.E is released via Plague records and is a nine-track album with some incredible physical releases on the cards too. The album is written and produced by Cappo, with some additional production coming from Congi, Theorist and Sam Zircon. Recorded and mixed by 1stBlood and mastered by Irn Mnky, the design and layout come from Rich Brown at Bee Graphics.

With all that said, there is only one thing left to do, and that is for me to take you through the album, top to bottom, giving you my impressions along the way…

It all kicks off with Jar which is produced by Congi and has a heavy pounding beat, interlaced with keys and more, giving it a sound that is deep but, also switches along the way keeping you focused on the words. Cappo’s vocals here seem to have this reflective air to them which mirrors the tone of the beat. Jar grabs you deep in your chest as Cappo speaks on what feels like the thoughts of someone musing on a broken relationship or even the loss of someone close, things that have a close emotive energy and leave you wondering what hits home more, the loss or the wonderful memories left behind. With those thoughts still so clear in your mind the intro to Drip, suddenly jerks you back to reality, produced by Theorist, this one has a sparse beat mixed with piano and the sound of dripping water. This all comes together for a vibe that plays havoc with your mind, much like Cappo’s words, which at first seem to be reflective of things he sees around him, from the struggles of relationships and changing aspects of who you are to fit with that relationship, to the struggles of a parent doing their best but, seeing their frustrations explode on those closest to them. However, as you listen you begin to question those thoughts and wonder if this all about one person’s experiences in life, dripping into his current awareness. There is not time to sit and contemplate those thoughts as Terrace 3 – Void hits with an accapella vibe, where Cappo’s words have the emotive strength of a person grappling with their own mental health, stepping back from those closest to them. The beat kicks in about halfway through and has a more modern sound to it, mixed with some electronic vibes that seems to match the feels of those intrusive thoughts that hit every day, matching the air of the lyrics perfectly.

Window is next and opens with an eerie intro, which I’m not gonna try and translate here, and sets a tone that has you wondering what’s coming. When the beat drops, it has a pounding feel that seems to weigh heavy on every nerve. Cappo’s words seep into your mind and speak on someone struggling with life, medicating and immersing themselves into anything that numbs the pain. Just as you are coming to some understanding, the beat changes, becoming slightly more upbeat with a sound that gets your head nodding. Here, it feels like this is a moment of clarity in an otherwise pain filled haze. This is a moment where you can suddenly see your own struggles and where you need to be to get back to who you are but, it is also the moment where you may question if you have the strength to do it? Terrace 2 is a short that has a huge impact, with Cappo’s words those someone might record in a live video, recording their thoughts as they continue to struggle with the strains of life where there is not enough money or help for those who need it most. I have seen this stuff first hand on the streets and in talking cafes and it hits so hard because these few words are so real and reflect the sad reality that so many live. With those words hitting so hard, it is almost a relief when the piano and head nod beat of Strongbow kick in but, that relief is short lived as the reality of Cappo’s words hit home once more. There is a glimmer of hope here though as this one focuses on someone doing their best to recover, swapping the spliff for a four pack of Stongbow, doing their best to take their meds in an attempt to get better but, only finding solace within their own four walls while the system looks down on them, labelling them and failing them and those around them. This is where the medical model favours legal drugs over giving more support and therapy that can truly help people get back into society and back on their feet.

Slow Poison is produced by Sam Zircon and brings a heavy modern sound with a grime edge to it. The piano elements give this one an emotive edge; that emotive edge fits with the vibe of the track which really seems to be focused on addiction in its various forms, and that is the poison which slowly invades you, gaining control of who you are, taking away your true self and separating you from those who care. Coming back from addiction is hard and takes willpower, something that has to come from deep inside, from your true self, and you have to recognise that and find who you truly are. The penultimate track is another short, Terrace 1, which brings another glimpse of the sun through the dark storm clouds. Here we hear the words of someone fighting to kick the darkness and find the light of the true self, realising that they have retreated from everything and everyone who brought light to their life. This is one of those huge steps forward in finding your true self, asking for the help. The last track of the album is Writeful Owner and brings another emotive vibe of electronic keys and heavy pounding beats that reinforce the deep aspects of the words. Those word here see Cappo opening up on moving forward with a clean slate, starting again after all the struggles, pain and suffering, this is where the new journey begins and walking forward into a future that you get to write yourself, written in a place that is illuminated by the light of love and positive vibes…

Sometimes you have to give yourself a minute when you are summing up the overall vibe of an album such as this, and this is one of those times.

On the face of it this album is about so many of the struggles that people go through in life but, it is so much more than that. S.T.A.R.V.E has such a deeply personal edge to it that you can’t help but feel as you listen to every track. It hits every emotion you have as you listen, from sadness and empathy to a conclusion that culminates in a feeling of relief as you understand that all the battles throughout the album have not gone in vain and there truly is a brighter horizon in view.

Cappo touches on so many subjects that anyone of us can relate to, and it is the strength of those words that impacts you so deeply as you listen; you can feel his pain because you know that pain but, more than that, you can feel the positive nature of the final track because you feel that too, and you feel all this because of the skilful way in which Cappo delivers every word of every line across the album and those spoken word elements carry such impact too, it’s almost unreal. The wordplay is incredible too as it matches the impact of the delivery, allowing you to hear and feel every word on a whole different level.

Production wise too, you can’t get much better here as every track has this sound that matches the tone of the lyrics perfectly, allowing every track to reverberate through your entire being, eliciting an emotive response that you might not be expecting. I have to commend the guest producers as much as the production from Cappo himself, it’s a cracking piece of work to say the least.

I don’t know how much of this might come from Cappo’s personal experience but, from sitting here and letting every word in, feeling those words too, it makes me think that these words could very well come from his own lived experience, which is why this album hits on so many levels, because it comes from a place that is rooted firmly in reality and true emotional experience and for someone to be that open and honest takes story teller to a whole different level. In fact, you could even say that this goes beyond story telling and becomes a beacon to those out there going through their own personal hell, and shows them a light, a direction to a true path of recovery.

S.T.A.R.V.E is out on Plague records now.

You should also check out the additional release by Cappo and Plague called Vignettes, a collection of additional shorts that serve as an expanded narrative for S.T.A.R.V.E and it protagonist. This is available as a free or Pay what you can download and well worth listening to once you have digested the original.

My humble thanks to Craig at Killa Tapes for asking me to do this and also huge thanks to Danny over at Plague for giving me the chance to review the album.

I’ll see ya next time.

Steve – Infinite Sounds UK 

LINKS

Get your copy of S.T.A.R.V.E. here:

https://plague11.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-a-r-v-e

Get a copy of Vignettes Here:

https://plague11.bandcamp.com/album/vignettes

Cappo Links:

https://www.instagram.com/kafka_poe_murakami/

https://linktr.ee/_Cappo_

Plague Links:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/plague11/posts/

https://www.instagram.com/plague_11/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCffd_9Pc-5NDYA7OyoUV5cQ

https://twitter.com/Plague218

Get the Killa Tapes Magazine and much more from Killa Tapes Here:

https://killatapespodcast.com/product-tag/magazine/

https://www.facebook.com/killatapespodcast

https://www.instagram.com/killa_tapes/