Under The Radar
& Over Their Heads
By
Remark &
Murmur
There are times in life when finding a way forward leaves
you not able to see the wood for the trees, and at these times we often turn to
music as a way to help us find our path again. That is a situation that I kind
of find myself in and so, have sought to focus on this review to help get back
on my own path, once more. Now, this is not the way that I would ordinarily
start a review but, it’s always good to mix things up a bit.
Following how much I enjoyed the debut release of Remark
& Murmur, Introspection (2025), there is this deep feeling inside that
Remarks deep alternative lyrical content and Murmur’s LoFi Hip Hop sound is
likely to bring some clarity and ease some of the weight that comes with living
in our society right now.
Remark & Murmur’s sophomore release is Under The Radar
& Over Their Heads and album which they describe as a more authentic,
mature, and deeply moving soul journey, woven through dusty breakbeats, lush
downtempo hip hop vibes, and cinematic string arrangements that elevate the
underground ethos to new heights.
Remark says of the album "This album’s about depth
over trends. We've poured everything into creating something that feels
lived-in and real—dusty breaks for the heads, orchestral soul for the heart,
with lyrics that mean something, hopefully to the listener. It’s under the
radar, because that's where indie art lives, and over their heads because of
its depth”.
Murmur goes on to explain "Production-wise, we
wanted to build worlds—slow-burning downtempo grooves layered with live-feeling
orchestration. I was aiming for a cinematic & emotional sound to provide a
landscape for Remarks lyrics.’
With all that said, there is a lot there, in those few words
that give us pause for thought and to consider what the album is going sound
like and what it might actually say to the depths of our being as we listen.
I think it is now time to stop the thoughts and expectations
and to let Remark & Murmur takes us wherever the music will take us. I hope
that you will join for the ride…
The album begins with the Intro, where the LoFi
electronic sounds and the occasional drumbeats, create this almost meditative
sound that seems to lower the brainwaves allowing the vocal sample to penetrate
that much deeper into your awareness, and as you listen you realise that there
is a lor more being said. Now I’m not going to say that I know where this comes
from but, listening gives you a lot more pause for thought and sets up the tone
of the album. There are many texts and even musical frequencies that have kept
from us or even stopped from us reading or experimenting with, for the sole
fact that the truths within them would change our view or everything we think
we know about history, healing and more. Perhaps, right here I should suggest
you not listen to this album because then it would make you want to listen all
the more because of what the content might say…
Always Onwards begins our journey, now that we have
had the scene set for what is to come. The sound is heavy with piano vibes
alongside the kind of beat that gets your head nodding. But here the
combination creates a sound that has your head nodding with closed eyes in
anticipation of what lyrics may bring. Remark brings us some rousing lyrical
content with deep spiritual connotations that ask you to look beyond the often-dark
times we live in. In doing this we realise that we are all part of a cosmic
oneness where true seeing and speak comes from the heart and not the head. When
we get out of our head and into our hearts, we understand that there are times
we need to look back, but we do that only to learn from the past and never to
let it hold us back, always moving onwards and evolving the soul as we do so. The
thoughts arising already give us much to think about and Moment Of
Reflection gives us a moment to reflect while moving forward. The sound is
a mix of bass notes with acoustic guitar notes, and another drum beat that
makes your head want to move as vibe brings life to those reflective thoughts. Once
more there is more to this one than meets the eye as Remark invites us to move
past the ego and past the fear that keeps us rooted in a place where we can be
controlled. As we move beyond these things we put ourselves in a place where we
can connect with nature and move ourselves to a place where we can remember who
we truly are and our relationship with everything around us. Once we remember
this and understand it, there is nothing that can hold us back from
understanding the true nature of all things. Next up is Trye Eyed Soul,
where Murmur brings us a sound where guitar notes and a sparce beat combine to
bring a vibe that has this uplifting feel in a way that puts you in mind of the
sunshine breaking through the rain clouds. Here Remark mixes rap and sung
lyrics which look at the perceived duality of two worlds, one inside and one
outside, The 3-D world and the dream world. The message here is to bring
yourself to a place where you can view everything from your true self; doing
that allows you to come to a place where you see both worlds as one, neither
being indistinguishable from the other and both being interconnected in the
grand scheme of things.
Persistent Turmoil brings a more electronic vibe with
bass notes and a more relaxed beat twined with synth notes that give this one a
sound that has an emotive edge in a way that is not easy to describe, it is
just there. But you begin to understand that emotive edge as you listen to the
vocals. Each word seeps into your awareness, touching you deeply as you realise
that Remark is perfectly describing our current world view and the effect it
has on us. Wars are raging for the sole purpose of greed while all around us,
everyday we see injustice and people left by the wayside, by a system that is
ill equipped to truly help them. This might be tales from the Remark-side but,
they could so easily be tales from the side of each and every one of us. With
those emotionally charged thoughts still at the forefront of our awareness, Nagging
Doubt brings a sound that mixes guitar notes and synth vibes, over a beat
that unconsciously has you moving, giving this one a sound that seems take hold
of your focus and shifting it within. I don’t know if it was the intention
here, but this one makes you think of how your own thoughts speak to you,
raising doubts about your own journey as the outside world pressurises you into
thinking that way. The key here is not to hold onto those doubts, but release
them, acknowledge and thank them for what they have to teach you, then let them
go and allow the universe to change that energy from one of a negative impact,
to one that is more positive. We cannot allow our doubts to consume us.
The Beautiful Design brings a far more energetic
sound from Murmur, with a heavy drumbeat and a rousing rock and bass guitar notes
that fuels a different kind of fire within. There is also synth sound that
carry us and focus our thoughts in a far more positive direction. Remarks
vocals mix rap vocals with sung elements that create an interesting balance as
you listen. It speaks deeply to you as you understand that with all the
changing feelings and emotions we experience, as we move along the path of
life, we are in a far better place when we a dream to hold on to and when we
feel that we actually belong to something, with people who understand who we
are and how we feel, people that can support us and lift us up when we feel at
our most vulnerable. As that realisation hangs tantalisingly at the forefront
of our thoughts, Time Heals drops with a title that says so much before
the music even kicks in. The drumbeat, mixed with the keys brings a sound that
continues the uplifting feeling that began on the previous track. There is a
simple message here and the title says it all really but, there is a deeper
aspect to it. We all walk through life experiencing much with each step, each
passing moment. Life can raise us up or drag us down, and through all this,
each experience builds up so much within us, so easily pushing us to a point
where it all seems too much and we have to let it go, somehow. What we have to
remember is that we have a heart and if we can truly connect with what the
heart desires, then we will understand that we can heal from anything, scars
might remain to remind us of what we have overcome but, if we desire it enough
and give it a little time, we can heal.
Samhain is the pagan festival that celebrates a time
of the year when the vail between worlds is at its thinnest. It encompasses
what we now call Halloween and a time of the year when we shift into the
darkest time of the year, and the opening of the track gives you some
background. Murmur brings a sound that has a more electronic LoFi feel mixing a
sparce beat with a plethora of electronic vibes giving this a sound that
carries your awareness to place where it can sit between worlds and lives.
Remark looks at many aspects of light and darkness, life and death, and the
fact that you can not have one without the other. But the deeper aspect of this
is facing the darkness within or your shadow side, work with this to face what
you lease wish to see within, the more you do this, the more you reclaim your
true self and awaken you true power. Dreamy Narcosis seeps into our
awareness with a sound that mixes guitar notes with a laid-back beat to give us
a vibe that this alternative meditative feel to it, opening our minds up to
other possibilities. Here it is all about looking within for what really
matters, because the world around us just creates noise that distracts us from
the truth of who we really are. Going within allows us to find a new kind of
strength that comes from the heart, a strength of pure love. The powers that be
don’t want us to look within, because when we truly go within, all their lies
and control fall apart, and we are able to see the truth behind everything. We
come to the penultimate track of the album, Self-Titled, where Murmur
brings a sound that has a more Hip Hop vibe to it, getting your head nodding as
the energy continues to raise you up to a place where a new perspective helps
you see far more. The spiritual aspect is not lost here though as Remark sums
up the album by bringing personal insights to bear. Elevation plays a huge part
here too, be it the elevation of the soul or the elevation in music by
elevating the underground movement to sound that speaks in a different way,
directly to your soul, while keeping the soul of the music rooted in that real
Hip Hop sound. This is one of those tracks that will speak to each of us
differently, so have a listen and vibe with it…
The album rounds off with the Outro. Here Murmur
underpins Alan Watts describing Inception, with a LoFi Hip Hop sound that
merges with the vocals in such a way that the sound carries the vocals into
your awareness, giving you pause for thought and to allow every word to speak
to you directly. There is a lot here that may speak to you differently than it
does me, but the nature of dreams, perception and god, there is a lot packed
into just couple of minutes, a couple of minutes that leave your mind open to all
possibilities, something that this entire album seems to have been set up to
do, raise your awareness and open your mind…
Let’s not beat around the bush here, because there is no
need to do so. Remark and Murmur have done it again and created something that
takes the seed of true Hip Hop music, knowledge and wisdom, planted them and
cultivated them and nurtured them. Growing a sound that elevates all those
things into a place where it is easily accessible by everyone, and in doing
that they have given us something that gives us another tool to look within and
to elevate our own consciousness.
We all have the capability to raise our consciousness but,
sometimes to help us see that, we need direction from a source that we can
easily associate with, and that is what Under The Radar and Over Their Heads
is all about. Remark and Murmur have taken music that so many of us enjoy,
and they have then used that to deliver messages and invitations for the
listener to take onboard, that will have them thinking and musing well after
the last beat has passed. That happens because the energy the music creates does
not die or end, it simply changes form; that form changes into the form of
thought energy, allowing the music and the message to live on infinitely
within.
There is little more you can say here but, Remark and Murmur
obviously have this synergy in working together because what they create
suggests that they are both on the same page, with Murmur creating the perfect
soundscapes that work in harmony with Remarks lyrics. They compliment each
other in way that goes beyond a producer and emcee working together. This seems
to be two souls coming together to bring something special to a world that
needs its inhabitants to awaken their minds and connect with their souls, and
the music these two bring does just that, if you just allow it in to truly
speak to you.
I think I will leave it there now, because its now up to you to experience Under The Radar & Over Their Heads, letting it speak to you because the only way we can truly elevate ourselves is to go under the radar of the powers that be, while at the same time, flying over their heads and becoming who we were truly meant to be.
Make sure you also keep watch for the upcoming HQ music
videos that will accompany the album. The video for Moment of Reflection is out
now and features a little bit of camera work from my good self, so check that
out below.
Also keep watch for some limited physical copies coming very soon too.
Under The Radar & Over Their Heads is out today.
Huge thanks to my good friend Remark for the chance to work
with him and to be able to bring you my take on this inspiring album.
I’ll see you next time.
Steve.
Oh Yeah, I almost forgot one thing. At the beginning of the review I stated that I was using the focus of this review to help me to get back on my own path. The question is, did it help me do that? Well, sometimes it takes a little more than music but, I have to say that, without a shadow of doubt, focusing on this album did help me to look at things differently and that might well be a huge part of what comes next and this album, and it's predecessor will not be far from my ears as I walk my path. just going to show that content of this type, you are never alone on your journey...
LINKS
Get your copy of the album here:
https://remarkmurmur.bandcamp.com/album/under-the-radar-over-their-heads
Remark Socials:
https://www.facebook.com/RemarkMcLennan
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005925346438
https://www.instagram.com/remarkmclennan/
https://www.youtube.com/@RemarkMcLennan/featured
Murmur on Insta:
https://www.instagram.com/murmur8000/
VIDEOs
Moment of Reflection
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