Bad Weather
(feat Glad2Mecha, Alecs DeLarge & Tomppa Coates)
By
Ratty The Sly
Bad Weather is the second physical release, on Rushed Rat
Records, of Ratty The Sly (the first being ‘Balling on a Budget’). Ratty The
Sly is a producer, DJ and Emcee from Scarborough UK. With this single Ratty has
put together a good line up of guest artists in US Emcee/producer/engineer
Glad2Mecha, Sheffield beatmaker/Emcee Alecs Delarge and Tomppa Coates.
So, let’s put our coats on and grab our umbrella’s and see
if weather really is that bad…
Ratty The Sly’s production on Bad Weather brings this mix of
horns, keys, drums, and cuts that all merges together with a kind of jazzy
undertone. The drums are sparse but heavy, while the horns fade in and out as
whole vibe carries you along setting up this dreamy chilled out but, still edgy
sound scape.
Once the laid-back vocals kick in there seems to be at least
two ways to look at what you get from the track. On the face of it, it just
appears to be all about being outside caught up in the wind and rain but, the
more you listen there appears to be a metaphoric aspect to the track where it
could be talking of the tough times we all go through day to day or still
further there are moments when you feel it’s all about the state of society we
are all living in right now. The more you listen the more get from the track
and you have to give credit here for Ratty producing a track that allows the emcees
to paint these audible pictures, each in their own style, with each verse seemingly
capturing a different aspect of life, and what you get from each verse really
depends on the perspective you are taking at the time. There is a brooding
atmosphere to the track that is enhanced by the laid-back nature of the vocals
which, to a point, almost clouds your ability to fully decipher the meaning
behind the track.
The thing is that whichever way you take the track, if you take
it at face value or as a view of the current state of society, bad weather and
hard times both bring a heavy vibe whenever you look at the dark clouds,
pouring rain or the cost of living and the pain and suffering in the world
around you, it creates a feeling of little motivation to do anything than just
to sit back and chill. Well, now you have the perfect soundtrack to when those
storm clouds gather and the pressure of life seems too much, you sit back and
put on Bad Weather and just go with the vibe, then soon enough the sun
breaks through and everything feels a damn sight better.
I am sure that, from what I have just written, you can get
that overall, I liked this track, the places it took me and fact it gives you
that vibe of Hip Hop being a single universal family the world over. The jazzy
and raw sound was a fresh change, and the heavy drumbeat was just enough to
keep you rooted in the current reality, which is great work from Ratty. The
laid-back vocals from Glad2Mecha, Alecs, Tomppa and finally Ratty create views
of life from both sides of the pond with the kind of flow that you can sit and
properly listen to or simply just float along with. You really don’t have to
read as much into it as I have, just enjoy it…
Sending some additional recognition to Archie Pheby-McGarvey,
engineer, who helped mix the beat, mixed all the vocals, and mastered the whole
thing. I don’t know much, if anything, about mixing and mastering but, I’m
reliably informed (by Ratty himself) that it is quite a job to do a three-mic
mix, so huge kudos to Archie.
Bad Weather is out now on Rushed Rat Records and available
on limited 7” vinyl, if there are any left that is…
Huge thanks to Ratty The Sly for sending this one over and
it’s now time for me to take of me coat, close the umbrella and be outta here…
Steve
LINKS
Remember to check out Ratty The Sly and Rushed Rat Records on social media and all the usual streaming platforms.
Get your copy of Bad Weather on Bandcamp Here:
https://rushedratrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bad-weather-2
Rushed Rat Records Webshop:
https://rushedratrecords.bigcartel.com/products
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