EP Review: Kemz The Astral Being by Kemetstry X Micall Parknsun

 

Kemz The Astral Being

By

Kemetstry X Micall Parknsun

 

It’s been around twelve months since Kemetstry was last featured on the blog. His latest release is Kemz The Astral Being, an EP that is four tracks deep and fully produced by the legendary figure of Micall Parknsun, who also features on the EP, alongside a feature from Anyway Tha God.

Now this one was released back at the end of September and is the third in the Kemz series of releases. The previous being Kemez The Atlantean (2022) and Kemz The Alchemist (2024), both of which have been reviewed here, so check the hyperlinks.

Being as I have featured Kemetstry a few times on the blog, I won’t make you wait with a long intro. So, lets get straight into it…

 

We begin our journey beyond this mortal realm with Astral Beings (spray out) featuring Anyway Tha God. Parky brings us a sound that fits with the etheric energy as the heavy beat is backed by keys and percussion that has you floating out of body. Kemz and Anyway Tha God bring us some cerebral wordplay that seems to speak to you beyond this three dimensional existence, directly to your soul. The narrative appears to speak with a viewpoint that looks back at lives past, giving you pointers on how to live a better life before progressing to the life beyond. With that thought in mind, Micall Parknsun joins Kemz on vocals for Lighten Up Ya Soul. Here the beat is backed by synth sounds that keep us floating through that etheric realm. This one brings a soulful edge to the lyrics, and one speaks directly to your mind, here in the 3-D world by inviting you to step away from darkness that exists around you and connect with your soul, your energetic or light-being self, which comes from a place of unconditional love. This is where you can find your true self in a place where darkness takes a back seat.

Once you have found your true self the trick is then to Stay In The Light. Parky brings a powerful beat that is backed by keys and a vocal sample that has an angelic feel, lifting you up and bringing a truly euphoric air. This one really seems to look at the eternal battle between light and dark and how our lives, so often move between experiences that keep us in the light or see us in shadow. Those shadow times can be unexpected or even of our own doing, and what is important is to know when the shadows fall upon us and to make that conscious decision to move back to and stay in the light. The EP ends with Road and Postcode (R&P), here piano notes back a proper head nod beat, giving you a reason to move and listen to the lyrics. There is proper reason to listen close to the lyrics here as Kemz brings an important message, one that is as pertinent right now but, is something you could have said forty years ago, and it would still hit the same. The road and the postcode say where you are from, and so often that could well make you a target. When I was growing up in Southampton, that meant going to Portsmouth was a risk but, also just walking half a mile down the road put you in a postcode that meant you were in the Weston area, and if you were from Sholing, might become a target. These days you won’t just get chased, now we live in a society where knives and guns are a very real risk, but the message here is to think before you act and don’t do anything that could come back on you or those closest to you. It is a very real message to stop the violence, and not just here in the UK, but the world over too.

With an EP, it can often be hard to pack so much into a few tracks, but here Kemestry shows that if you have the right vison, you can do just that. Here he shows that intelligent wordplay is the keys to helping the listener to be open minded as to what they can hear within the music they are listening to. His deep cerebral lyricism brings a spiritual edge goes beyond just telling someone a message. Here he takes you beyond your current understanding, speaking not just to your mind but, to your soul. There just seems to be this unconscious aspect to the words you hear and their delivery that makes them touch you on a whole different level, one you are not immediately aware of. That is enhanced by the etheric nature of sound that Parky brings with deep soulful sounds that appear to move your awareness to a whole different plane, fitting so well with what Kemz is delivering with his lyrics.

I am all for promoting Hip Hop that hits on different levels, while still delivering a positive message in away that speaks to you on a truly deep level and I found that Kemz and Parky have really seemed to have nailed that vibe. Everything about this one, from Kemetstry’s lyrics to Parky’s production, and the guest artists, all just exudes that sense of deep positive alignment with the true nature of the universe.

The Kemz series has taken us to some exotic places and some that have a very occult nature but, they have always had a very positive outlook, especially one in lifting you up and evolving your awareness of the true nature of things; and Kemz The Astral Being is no different. I mean, you can’t go wrong in aligning yourself with legendary Micall Parknsun, and alongside Kemetstry, they have brought to live another chapter in the Kemz series that focuses that positive, uplifting vibe, to a finer point, and one that makes you wonder if this is last in that series or if Kemz still has more to say in pointing you towards a more elevated vison of the self…

Kemz The Astral Being is out on digital and strictly limited physical copies, so don’t sleep on this one.

I’ll be seeing ya…

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://spidalee.bandcamp.com/album/kemz-the-astral-being

Kemetstry Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/kemetstryOfficial

https://www.instagram.com/kemetstry_official/

https://www.youtube.com/@Kemetstryofficial

Micall Parknsun Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/memyselfandakai

https://www.instagram.com/parkypix/

VIDEOS

Stay In The Light

Road & Postcode

 

 

 

Album Review: About Time by Lomax

 

About Time

By

LOMAX

 

About Time is the debut solo release from one of Lancashire’s finest emcees Lomax. Now, over the years, Lomax has been no stranger to the blog. His first appearance was as a guest on Dweller’s Record of Achievement, way back in January of 2020, following that he appeared as one half of the Obslites, alongside Karlow (now Areli) with debut Surplus To Requirements, and later as one of T.H.E.M. alongside Seek The Northerner, Bruva Smokes, and Karlow (Areli), on their debut album Outside The Box from 2023, and that’s just to name a few.

Before we get into the album, lets get a little more background on the emcee from Wigan. His musical journey began aged Ten when he began playing the drums, which led to him playing drum’s for the school orchestra. Later he would start recording rap demos using a four track tape recorder at school. Following on from this he would go on to a formal schooling in music and a career in education, as well as playing guitar and keys. He produces his own beats using a combination of software and real instruments.

He blew up on the UK Hip Hop scene in 2020 winning the ‘Shotgun the Bars’ competition. Then a link up with Micall Parknsun and support for the Beatnuts and Jeru The Damaja, plus a string of live performances alongside DJ Woody, would see him quickly make waves, catching the eyes of his peers. He would also feature alongside the legendary Blak Twang on the album ‘Going Up’.

About Time features concepts that are as diverse as his musical influences, with deep storylines and conspiracy theories, showcasing his skills to the fullest. The album is also produced by Micall Parknsun and features appearances from C.O.N. Vers, COSM, Verbz, BxBarian, Karlow, and Jabbthakut. Being released through Live From The Groove, there is this feeling that all in all it promises to be something special.

So, all that said, I think its about time for me to take you on a deep dive into About Time…

 

As the hands of time begin to move, the album starts off with In The Meantime, which mixes melodic keys with a solid beat that has your head nodding once the intro has got you understanding that the sun and moon are constants, and will always be there as a symbol of the passage of time. As an intro, this one goes beyond just being a demonstration of his abilities and what Lomax is about. This one explores the fact that we are all prisoner within the manmade construct of time. Without time, we would live only by the passage of the sun and the moon. So, now you have an insight into the skills Lomax is bringing to the table, its time to keep moving forward with So Cold. Here Parky raises the bar and your pulse rate with a heavy beat that is backed with bass and strings, all of which combine to bring a sound that gets you punching the air. Lomax also raises things up by upping the flow rate and giving us bars that begin to show the depth of the subject matter he is touching on. As you listen, trying to keep pace with the word flow, you realise that not only is Lomax cold in what he delivers but, he is likely to freeze you to the core. Take Time sees C.O.N. Vers make is first appearance on track that has a dark edge with the heavy beat backed by strings that sound like a deadly swarm of bees, there are also some eerie piano notes dropping in that add to the uneasy feeling. This one is all about the fact that, to things properly, you need to take your time. Don’t rush into things thinking you can just get done. Do that and everything you do will end up being forgotten or remembered for the wrong reasons but, take you time with all you do, and you can’t fail to produce something that will stay in peoples minds or become locked in their unconscious memory waiting for the right time to be brought back into conscious recall. Next, COSM steps up for the Freakshow where the drum break, strings, and horns bring a sound that is heavy but also tests your nerves. With the sound testing your nerves, you might find that the lyrics and the delivery test your mind so, keep your wits about you. Here its all about delivering complex lyrics that test the resolve of the artist as much as they test the ears of the listener. When you take your time to write and deliver your very best, it is without doubt that those words may invade your sleep and perhaps even take on a mind of their own. Perhaps it’s deeper than that, maybe the words have always been there, waiting for the right time to seize your subconscious and explode into the third dimensional world. Maybe they were just too much for the mind of the reviewer? Things seem to ease back a little with The Whirlwind as the beat is a little more relaxed but, by no means any less heavy. The strings create a musical emulation of what a whirlwind sounds like, spinning your mind around but, not in a dangerous way. Lomax also eases back on the flow rate but still putting your head in a spin as you rotate through three hundred and sixty degrees, trying to figure out which perspective is the best one to view this from as Lomax delivers a complex array of bars that feel like they were created by a blast from HAARP.

You come out of this spin to the knowledge that, providing you are listening to this on vinyl, that it is time to flip over to the other side. As you do so, Verbz joins Lomax for the Butterfly Effect, with Jabbathakut on the cuts. Here the beat is backed by organ notes that create this laid-back sound which almost has you swaying along to the sound as the lyrics take to the forefront. On first listen you might not fully grasp this one but, as you listen you realise that its all about cause and effect and how the smallest action has the potential to affect something on the other side of the world, or it can affect everything in your life from that moment on. It is humbling to look back and realise that something as small as leaving you house or not on day many years ago, can have a huge effect on where you are now. From something so deep we keep moving forward with Same Old, where horns and strings back a laid-back drum beat to bring a sound that seems to have a reflective edge. As we traverse our life in this time and space, there are moments when things just seem to come back around, time and again. These are the moments when we feel it’s the same old things happening, just a different moment in time, or perhaps we are destined to experience these moments, over and over again until we find their meaning and what it has to teach us, an interesting thought! Codebreakers sees BxBarian join us for the first time and brings back C.O.N. Vers one last time. The beat is a little heavier here with piano notes that gives this one a more focused air to it. The art of code breaking is to take something that appears to be nonsensical and then to find the pattern that fits, making it spill its secrets. There are a lot of things in plain sight these days that appear to be giving us one answer when in fact it hides something far different and even sinister, and this is what the guys are doing here is to open up on breaking down what is out there and not to get entangled in the lies. In doing so, they create their own code that is embedded in their lyrics. We come to the penultimate track of the album, Angels & Demons, where an air of uneasiness is created by the melodic drum break which is backed by an eerie mix of sounds that open you up to extreme possibilities. Here Lomax explores the concepts of good and evil, not just as supernatural beings but, what exists within the world around us and within us. I guess that what occurs to you here is that one can does not exist without the other. So, for all the evil you see around you or even inside you, there is equal or better there too, you just have to believe and to see it. The album rounds off with Modus Operandi which features BxBarian and Karlow alongside Lomax with cuts by Jabbathakut. Organ notes and a hefty beat give this a sound that gets you nodding along while systematically twisting your mind. This one focuses on the way people operate or behave, something that doesn’t just reflect how each of the artist work but, also relates to everyone we interact with and see in the world around us. Each of us has our own ways of doing things, and I don’t want to speculate on things here and start talking about my own habits but each of you reading this and listening to the album will know what I’m referring to here; we also see it in those around us or what we see on the TV etc. This is a very deep concept to consider, especially when you think how people can behave differently in how they present to the world as opposed to what their goals are behind the mask…

What is immediately striking about the album is the fact that Lomax has crafted some highly intelligent and deeply complex lyrics that can twist and turn how you interpret them with each listen. Especially when you take into account your own experiences in life. I don’t know if that was intentional but, when you take into account the concepts of time and space that are interwoven you get this feeling that it would be interesting to be able to experience this album in multiple dimensions all at once. Just to see how differently it speaks to you, or is that a bit much…

Something I do want to point out here is the concept of quality over quantity. Now, it might have taken Lomax five years to bring us a solo album but, when that album has the quality that this one does, it speaks more about his approach to his craft that anything. He could have put out, album after album since 2020, taking advantage of his explosion onto the scene but, instead, he has taken the time to gain experience, hone his craft and then delver an album that immediately sets the bar high for anything else that comes after.

Working with Micall Parknsun is a credit too because he brings years of quality production knowledge to the table, and he is able to perfectly match the right beats with the right emotive feeling to emulate what Lomax is putting across in his lyrics. Which is no mean feat when those lyrics are as deep as they are here. When you then add in a sprinkling of guest appearances who each add their own depth and quality to the mix it just makes everything work so well, with everyone complimenting each other. Plus, when you put Jabbathakut in the mix, it just kind of brings it all together in one cohesive bond.

To be perfectly honest, this is one of those albums that you could spend hours talking on the nature of some of the concepts and just how well the intellectual and complex nature of the lyrics fit so well with those concepts. You could not make an album of this nature with out spending the time to craft it to perfection, and this is pretty close to perfection right here. But, I’ll leave it up to you to make your own mind up, because for me About Time is not just a banger, it’s a cerebral experience that speak on a whole other level for you, than it did me, so enjoy this one time and again.

My humble thanks go to Lomax and to Dweller at Live From The Groove for giving me the time to get into this one and bring you my own spookily deep dive.

About Time is released today on Live From the Groove and is available on limited Edition Black Vinyl, CD and Cassette versions but, be quick as I’m pretty sure they won’t be around for long.

 

I’ll see ya next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab your copy Here:

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/album/about-time

Here is your one link for all things LOMAX:

https://linktr.ee/lomaxland

Live From The Groove link tree:

https://linktr.ee/livefromthegroove

Singles Review: Mind Melt (Prod Daniel Niles) & Still I Rise (feat WhoDat & Prod by Micall Parknsun) by AnyWay Tha God

 

Mind Melt – Produced by Daniel Niles

and

Still I Rise – Produced by Micall Parknsun featuring WhoDat

By

AnyWay Tha God

 

These two recent singles from AnyWay Tha God have been out since October so, I’m a little late bringing these to you. Now, I first heard AnyWay Tha God when I reviewed the Remix project he did with Daniel Niles for his album Allow God To Interject, way back in 2021. Since that time, he has had a string of releases, most of which have been released through the G.A.W.D.S & L.A.W.D.S imprint.

Sadly, for this review I have not had the time to detail AnyWay The God's background and perhaps that is something for another day? But what I have for you today are two singles, Mind Melt which features production from Daniel Niles and Still I Rise which features WhoDat with production from the legendary Micall Parknsun.  

So, I won’t keep you waiting here but get straight into the music.

Mind Melt has this heavy head nod beat alongside some bass and keys which all combine to merge with and twist your mind into looking at reality with a slightly different viewpoint. This fits perfectly with AnyWay Tha Gods lyrics which grab hold of your awareness and literally pull apart your current understanding of reality, opening you up to everything you thought you knew but, in a true assault on the senses. At times you might struggle to keep focused on what he is injecting into your mind but, perhaps that is the deal here? Hitting you with all this information in a way that you end up taking on in a more unconscious way. Just think about it, but not too much…

Still I Rise is produced by Micall Parknsun and features WhoDat alongside AnyWay Tha God, and was inspired by the poem by Maya Angelou. Parky brings a wicked mix of drum beat and keys that give this one a banging vibe that also serves to raise your adrenaline levels. As the beat fills your ears AnyWay and WhoDat bring vocals with a true sense of purpose; a purpose that instils strength and feeling in you. This one speaks on having that strength in the face of adversity and to keep walking forward when life seems to try to knock you down at every turn. There is also a spiritual side to this that speaks on drawing energy and inner strength from a higher power too…

What we have here are two tracks that, on the face of it, are almost opposites but, when you go beyond face value you see that they compliment each other. Mind Melt has this stance that speaks on society and the world we live in and how it all can turn your mind inside out but, then comes Still I Rise which gives you the integrity, focus and strength to find a way to keep going as you walk the journey of life.

Each very powerful in their own right, these tracks speak on a different level, one that you need to be open to, to really feel. Production from Daniel Miles and Micall Parknsun are just spot on, really capturing the essence of the message in each track. AnyWay Tha God brings us intelligent lyrics that are delivered with strength and conviction. He also shows that his flows can switch no matter the subject matter and what kind of deliver it calls for to reach the listener. The appearance of WhoDat also totally compliments the track and fits perfectly with the message alongside AnyWay Tha God.

 

These are two solid tracks from AnyWay Tha God, and I would recommend that you check out these and the rest of what he has to offer, You’ll not be disappointed.

Both tracks are out there now.

My thanks to AnyWay Tha God for putting these my way.

I’ll be seeing you.

Steve.

LINKS

One link for the singles and all things AnyWay THa God:

https://linktr.ee/anywaythagod

VIDEOS

Mind Melt

Still I Rise

Single Review: Without Music (ft Micall Parknsun & Specifik) / Labels Smoove mix 7" Edit by Whirlwind D

 

Without Music (ft Micall Parknsun) / Labels (Smoove RMX 7” Edit)

By

Whirlwind D

 

There is no doubt that the last couple of years have been the most surreal period that most of us have ever experienced. What is has shown us is that music, that we listen to and that which is inside us, will never stop and will always be there and will evolve to suit the situation.

Back in April this year we were given our first hint at the forthcoming single from Whirlwind D with the release of the Labels Smoove Remix. Originally slated for a summer release, delays hit causing the release to be pushed back but, now that time is finally upon us, and those slices of wax should soon be dropping on doormats…

Without Music is most definitely on that feel good uplifting vibe as production comes from Djar One who brings us this blistering mix of funky horns, soulful vocal samples, and a proper head nod beat. There is not a better backdrop for Whirlwind D and Micall Parknsun to bring us their own personal stories on what the music means to them and how it has always been the shining light through all those dark times. You can really feel those heartfelt words as both emcees open up to us, and in doing that, they allow us to look deep inside ourselves and to recall all those fond memories of the times music has uplifted us in the times we most needed it. For me, music has always been a healing force, regardless of the genre you chose to listen to, and this track really sums up that healing influence that music has on us regardless of what is happening around us. To polish this one of there is a good dose of cuts from Specifik to seal the deal on what has to be a contender for single of the year.

The Labels Smoove mix 7” Edit really continues that upbeat vibe but, in a different way. Here Smoove takes strings, horns, and drums to create something that has to be one of the biggest feel-good tracks of the year and certainly one of biggest I’ve heard in a while. It really gives a whole new dimension to DJar One’s original vibe and allows us to revisit Whirlwind D’s original message, where he takes us back to those moments which defined an era and a young Whirlwind D. The energy in this track will have you wanting to jump around like back in the day and will leave you with a huge smile on your face. If, like me, you loved the original Labels from 2018’s Beats, Bits and Bobs, then this one just your cup of tea. Seriously, Smoove really does have a knack when it comes to remixes. Once again Specifik provides the cuts on this one which has also received regular airplay on 6 Music, as did the original.

 

There is always something about how whirlwind D crafts his lyrics, they are always clear and flow to perfection. The content is always knowledgeable and delivered in a way that speaks to you on a deep level. In fact, there have been tracks like Without Music, such as Nothing Is Better and MDM for example, where he delivers something that touches you in a very deep way. I found that Without Music touched me deeply for many reasons and, if you really think about it, where would we be without music. Music helps us to remember that we are not alone in our feelings and helps to uplift us when we need it most, without music the world would be a sad place…

There has always been that element of togetherness or being a part of something, with what Whirlwind D does, especially in since teaming with Specifik and B-Line and, more recently, with DJar One (who has to be one of the premier European producers out there) there is a special relationship that really does click and has, over the last few years, produced some of the biggest Hip Hop tracks we have seen for some time on the UK scene and tracks that really are such a pleasure to listen to. It is also worth noting that bringing in the legendary Micall Parknsun on Without Music was just genius too.

Even the artwork from John Dyer has this deep element to it that seems to draw you in, especially once you have listed to the single and you look again. It might just be me but, have a look and see if you get the same feeling, that solitary speaker seems to say "where would you be without me..."

Without Music is released through B-Line Recordings/Hip Hop Be Bop but, by the time you read this it has already sold out at B-Line HQ so you will need to check some of the other links below to see if there are still some vinyl copies out there.

On that note,

I’m out,

Steve

LINKS

Get the digital copy on Bandcamp Here:

https://whirlwindd.bandcamp.com/album/without-music

Get you copy from Hip Hop Be Bop Here:

https://hiphopbebop.com/product/whirlwind-d-without-music/

Get your copy from Suspekt Packages Here:

https://suspect-packages.com/product/12272/

Get you copy from Juno Here:

https://www.juno.co.uk/products/whirlwind-d-without-music-featuring-micall-parknsun/854579-01/

VIDEO

Without Music Official Video