EP Review: The Chronicles Of Nefaeria Volume 1 by Ill Sykes

 

The Chronicles of Nefaeria Volume 1

By

Ill Sykes

 

Released at the end of October this year The Chronicles of Nefaeria Vol 1 is latest EP release from UK emcee Ill Sykes. The EP is produced by Relense and is released through Weaponize Records.

Described as a dark journey through the Land of Nefaeria - a fantastical urban sprawl juxtaposed with modern-day London, it features a host of features from fellow underground UK rappers Bxrbarian, Con-Vers, Jibbarish, King Kakarot, Lomax, Charles Sagan and Tesla’s Ghost. This pretty much tells us all we need to know before going into the EP, so I’m not going to keep you hanging around and do just that…

The EP kicks off with The Dark Sentencer where the beat hits heavy alongside some piano notes and an almost eerie sounding electronic vibe, giving this a dark sound that hits hard. The first two thirds of this track serve as an introduction to this nefarious personality that Sykes displays as he gives us a brief glimpse into Nefaeria. A dark evil place where everything is the dark opposite of current city life but, is it really the opposite or could it be what our current society really is when seen through the right filter? Just as you are contemplating these ideas the beat and Sykes flow switches, the beat becomes more head nod and loses the electronic vibe, sykes sound changes to a rawer edge, almost as if the narrative changes from the external to an internal monologue of his own thoughts speaking out loud. Strings, keys and what is almost a music box melody guide us into Spare A Penny, which features Bxrbarian, before the heavy beat drops in, pounding every aspect of your awareness and bringing a more boom bap sound but, with that dark edge. Here we begin to see more and more that Nefaeria is just a reflection of our current society. Sykes and Bxrbarian show us a dark place where the people exist and give themselves to the service of the ruling elite, working and suffering in service to the same, giving up everything just to be of service. With little brightness shining through the dark times, too tired and beaten down to awaken to the true nature of the world they live in. The final third of the track shows the nature, the dark side of our current prime minister showing his nefarious nature as he takes office, undoing the help of those who need it most.

Ghosts of Nafaeria hits with sound of bass and electric guitar at the forefront of the beat. This gives a vibe that stirs the adrenaline at the very core, just as if there is an expectation of something coming, immanently. Here we note that Sykes is not necessarily speaking of etheric ghosts haunting the streets of Nafaeria but, the ghostly nature of those whose home is the shadows, living just outside the reach of the people who walk the streets every day, preying on those who stray too far into the darkness. Then the beat switches, giving it a more eerie nature making you question the nature of those who live in Nefaeria’s shadows and here they seem to speak from the beyond, giving a small look into their world, the world of Nefaeria’s ghosts. A far easter vibe accompanies the heavy beat of Orwellian Nemesis, featuring Tesla’s Ghost, this is a look at the nature of the streets of Nefaeria after the sun goes down. A place where it’s not safe to walk and where confrontation and violence rule. Those streets are not the place to be even if you are going somewhere for pleasure, this is a place where pain is the order of business and even the simplest of tasks is taking your own life into your hands. This is something that seems to be echoed more and more on the streets of our cities, here in the now, they are not places where you want to be after dark.

Predators / The G Process has a pounding beat with a sound that has strings and tambourine which brings this ominous soundtrack vibe. As you can guess this track is split into two parts; the first explores the dread on the streets of Nefaeria where we explore just who are the predators that prowl the streets of the city, a city under siege from pain, suffering and death but, here there are no monsters or dangerous beasts, here it is those who control the city that cause all the pain and suffering of those who live, walk and work within its boundaries. The second part seems the sound become more sparce but, equally more sinister as The G Process is revealed by a voice from beyond the streets and beyond the darkness. This is a voice of those who create that darkness and control everything within Nefaeria. A jazzy sound draws us into The Shadow Realm and that jazzy sound serves as a brief moment of relief from the heavy drums and keys that create a cautious vibe as we walk the shadows of Nefaeria. The shadow realm of Nefaeria is a place inhabited by the ghosts but, beyond that it is a place where those who chose to step become one in the same with those ghosts. This is a place where the sun never shines and only dirt and grime cover the floors; it is a place where pain and suffering are the only way to live, a place love has abandoned, and despair is second nature. This is a bleak outlook but, is it any different from the way of own society is headed…

The EP ends with Giant’s / The Faces of Nefaeria, a posse cut style track which sees Ill Sykes joined by C.O.N-vers, Jibbarish, King Kakarot, Lomax, Charles Sagan and Bxrbarian. The drum beat takes the forefront here backed by keys, strings and more, creating a solid head nod sound. Here we find the Giants are the faces of Nefaeria, thse who choose to stand up and put everything on the line in order to try and free the city from grasp of those who control it but, the Dark Sentencer will not give up and Volume 1 of the Chronicles of Nefaeria ends with, what appears to be, a prelude to an epic battle between the forces of light and darkness. This is another paralellel to what we see happening around us now as we see more and more people standing up in support of the injustice they see around them, more and more voices standing together as one…

For a seven track EP, The Chronicles of Nefaeria Volume 1, elicits the kind of response and thought processes as an entire album of focused conscious Hip Hop. But then this is not a seven track EP of to minute tracks that are there for the enjoyment of the listener, no this EP is a deep twisting and turning look at a dark society that seems to have no hope save for a few brave souls prepared to stand up for what is right.

Nefaeria might be just an imaginary place that is juxtaposed to the vision of modern day London, here in the UK but, the nature of what Ill Sykes has created with some incredibly intricate storytelling, littered with intelligent similes and metaphoric views of such a dark dystopian place, where life is not that much different from the experiences we are all facing in light the on-going challenges constantly placed on our shoulders, where footing the bill for governing mismanagement of services and costs rise disproportionately against wages and benefits, is bringing the everyday person to their knees and seeing rises in the numbers of suicides and so on…

Some top-notch guest artists really bring some depth to the EP too, adding that extra dimension to those tracks. Exactly what you need on a release like this, and the choice of guest artists is inspired here.

Ill Sykes and Relense have put together a very competent release that brings together dark and imposing soundscapes with intricate and equally dark storytelling that does not just entertain but also gives much food for thought. There is also this desire to see what might come with Volume 2. Will see the story play out from where this EP leaves off or could there be even more twists and turns before we see a culmination to The Chronicles of Nefaeria. 

If you have not heard this one yet, then it is well worth you time to check out as it is taking the art of Hip Hop storytelling to new hights. There is also a limited-edition vinyl version too for those of you who love the classic sound.

The Chronicles of Nefaeria Volume 1 is out now on Weaponize Records.

 

On that note,

Time for me to be out.

See Ya,

Steve.

LINKS

Grab you copy of the EP on Bandcamp Here:

https://weaponizerecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-chronicles-of-nefaeria-volume-1

Links for Ill Sykes:

https://illsykes.bandcamp.com/

http://twitter.com/illsykes

http://www.facebook.com/IllSykesofficial

https://www.instagram.com/ill_sykes/

Weaponize Records socials Links:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551812373834

https://www.instagram.com/weaponize_records/

VIDEOS

Ghosts of Nefaeria

 

 

 

 

Album Review: Belterz by Conscious Route

 

Belterz

By

Conscious Route

 

It’s good to finally be able to bring you another release from one of Scotland’s premier Hip Hop artists, Conscious Route, with his new album Belterz.

I want the man himself to give you the lowdown on this new project before I delve any further into it:

Belterz, the new album project by Conscious Route is a social exploration of his personal experience of a changing society and culture, highlighting the insights of an ageing person living life and being an artist in the music Industry.

Conscious Route draws upon years of experience in the music industry as he casts an eye over the state of hip-hop culture and the trials of getting noticed as an underground artist. His vocals mesh perfectly with those of his guests, bringing an array of vocal styles and accents as the music flips from hip-hop head-nodders to a UK Garage throwback, some soul-tinted melodies, dub, and beyond. 

The feature-heavy project boasts guest appearances from some of Scotland's finest, with tunes featuring Empress, YBxgtown, Kryptik, Lynzie Dray, Milles Better, Gluco, Jennifer Anne Todd, One Oz, Mistah Bohze, MacKenzie, JabbaThaKut, Wends, Becci Wallace, Solareye, Queen of Harps and Pro Focus.

The album musically and lyrically navigates a range of sounds and social topics, uniting the introspective with social observation, as we have come to expect from Conscious Route. Most of the production is handled battle rapper/ producer MacKenzie, with just two tracks (‘2 Guys’ produced by Tzusan and ‘Essence’ produced by Vagrant Real Estate) produced by others. Guest musicians, Chris Greive & Scott Bathgate also appear across 5 songs. With Scott Bathgate adding subtlety to ‘Ducks in a Row’ and an eerie edge to ‘Underground’, while Chris Greive brings extra trombone to the subtle style of ‘Late’, nuance to ‘Heart on Sleeves’ and a mix of Jazz influenced keys and trombone with the track ‘2 Guys’. 

 

With all that said, it is also worth noting that the album also features the talents of John Dyer for the artwork. Now, there is probably enough info there to get your pulse racing with anticipation, so join me know on a journey through the album and what it brings to mind…

 

The thirteen-track album kicks off with Amorphous Shape, which features Empress, the melodic beat is backed by keys and guitar vibes, this gives the sound a deep reflective air. There is a distinct difference between the vocals of Conscious Route and Empress, where Route brings a more relaxed flow while Empress has far more pace to her flow. This track really seems to speak on reflecting on their careers to date and how there is this amorphous nature to being an artist, allowing you to mould yourself to whatever sound comes your way and still being able to be 100% you and 100% authentic in the delivery. Next is Pretentious, featuring YBxGtown, this one has a head nod quality from the heavy beat, while it is backed by some guitar and keys that also bring a slightly chilled edge to things which allows the sound to guide you along to the words. This one focuses on the desire to bring more of the roots and the authentic nature of Hip Hop back to sound. A lot of the rappers and ‘so-called’ Hip Hop acts that are promoted in the industry are so far from the roots of the culture. There is that pretentious air to these acts, trying to be more than they are, whereas the true nature of the Hip Hop sound is to be yourself, be authentic and reflect what you see around you in your lyrics. Kryptik now joins Conscious Route on Carry On, this one has a more modern feel to it with some nerve tingling electronic notes helping to mix things up. This track deals with how artists perform live and the fact that there are a lot of those artists who perform their music over the original track and not to an instrumental version. Hip Hop was always about performing live music to the fans and delivering that music with energy and a pure love of what you do, without that does it really show a love for the music or simply a desire to make money?

 

Ducks In A Row, features Lynzie Dray and Milles better alongside Scott Bathgate on guitar, The deep drum beat with bass and live guitar gives this a heavy, emotive vibe, and your only kept from sliding in too deep by that trap style ticking. The soulful chorus adds more to the emotive nature of the track which brings focus to the diverse nature of the world around us, the challenges and nature of the stigma and discrimination this brings. In a society where there is such a diverse range of people on so many levels, it is important to remember to move with the times and always be aware of the changes around you and how you approach situations, even in your music. Sugar Coated, features Gluco and has a soulful air about it with the guitar and strings that provide a background to the drum beat and bass. Here we find that a sugar coating is one thing that you can’t do with the authentic underground scene. When you do something for the love of the culture and the music, it is difficult to get you name known, especially because this is where the artist speak on what matters, there is no sugar coating the words they say in delivering the stark realities of live through music. Essence is the first track that is not produced by Mackenzie, being produced by Vagrant Real Estate, and featuring Jennifer Anne Todd. This one has a definite Garage feel to it with the up-tempo drum beat, keys and bass. The message in this one is all about staying true to the roots of any genre, as the essence of what you do. There are so many differing sounds these days that it is often hard to know what you are hearing (as a reviewer that is definitely something I can struggle with). There are so many modern sounds that use rap but, are not Hip Hop in there essence, and sometimes those modern sounds can be very alike that it is hard define them.

 

Day Ones has features from One OZ, Mistah Bohze and Mackenzie alongside Jabbathakut on the cuts. With a lineup like this you just know it’s gonna be pure head nod Hip Hop, and you won’t be disappointed as the beat hits with bass and guitar vibes. This one has that posse cut vibe about it as each emcee goes in big time, dropping the kind of verses that show exactly why each one of them stands out as some of the best to pick up the mic. Late finds conscious Route joined by Wends on vocals and Chris Greive on trombone, for a reggae dub vibe and soulful chorus. Now, I might be wrong here but, this one seems to speak on the pressures of being an artist, writing, recording, and getting your music out into the public domain where it can be heard by as many people as possible. It's not an easy task but, the rewards of hearing it on the radio and knowing how many people are listening are priceless. Underground features Becci Wallace on vocals and Scott Bathgate on Guitar and Keyboards, the beat is heavy with an eerie, melodic edge. This one speaks to me of the nature of relationships; they are part of everything we do in life and extend from personal relationships and into professional ones. How we see and manage those relationships is often key to some of the most important decisions in our life but, they are also key to who we are and how we are able to develop as a person. Positive relationships can life us up and help us move in the right direction, while negative ones can bring us down and set back our life’s journey.

 

Original features Solareye and brings up-tempo sound that mixes electronic 8-bit style sounds with a heavy beat and rapid trap music style ticking sounds, this creates a weird balance between the old and new, the fast and slow, finishing with a change of style as a heavy bass vibe carries us out of the track. The title of the track speaks volumes here, this sound might not be for everyone but, the message here is that there are times when you have to bring a style that is ‘original’, just to keep the listener buzzing. This one does just that drawing on many influences to bring an original sound to might no be expecting. Hearts On Sleaves sees Queen Of Harps and Lynzie Dray feature on vocals with Chris Greive on Trombone. The sound mixes melodic guitar, a heavy drum beat and bass, with an almost reggae trombone and that more modern Trap style ticking sound, it all comes together to create this deep multi-layered vibe. There is a deeper aspect to this track as you get the idea that this one speaks on emotions, especially those brought up as you move through life and look back on the choices you made in the past and the regrets often attached to them But, at the same time there is an air of learning from those mistakes and moving forward regardless. It is ok to have regrets as long as we learn from them and not wallow in them. The penultimate track is Two Guys and features Pro Focus on vocals, Chris Greive on trombone and keyboards, and is produced by Tzusan. Here xylophone notes mix with piano, over which is a drum beat and this multi-layered sound of horns and electronic elements. This creates this sound that seems to combine grime, hip hop, and soundtrack vibes, it’s hard to pin this one down really. Conscious Route and Pro Focus bounce off each other spinning stories of two guys living in the rap dimension. It’s all about cleaver wordplay and weaving stories that may have their basis in fact and may not, does that really matter when it’s that enjoyable. The album ends with a bonus Day Ones (Remix), the remix turns the head nod vibe of the original into an out and out boom bap banger, with an infectious beat and some recognizable guitar samples thrown in for good measure. This one should have the clubs and airwaves bouncing for sure, so turn it up…

 

 

Belterz is some ride, that’s for sure. It is a genre breaking album that doesn’t pin itself down to one genre, except that the one thing linking all the tracks is rap. From top to bottom this album demonstrates the versatility and quality of Conscious Route as an artist. He shows that his amorphous rap nature gives him the ability to stretch himself to a variety of rap flows and styles, showing just how much of an accomplished artist he is, no matter which genre he applies his skills to.

Mackenzie’s production reflects the versatility of Conscious Routes rap styles, as he mixes up the genres within the soundscapes to provide the perfect platform for Conscious Route to bounce off. The addition of additional production from Tzusan and Vagrant Real Estate, just adds to depth and diverse nature of the project.

With the project having such a guest heavy element, it was spot on adding this wealth of talent that each adds their own depth, style, and accent to the project, helping to add that element of icing to the cake, as it were.

It has to be said that there will be those who will not gel with all the sounds and genres featured here and that is just one of those things as you can’t please all of the people all of the time. But this album does appeal to a wide range of listeners, many of whom do enjoy a wealth of cross genre vibes.

Overall, this is an underground rap album that draws on elements from many genres to create a highly enjoyable listen. Production and vocals are all top notch, not just helping to cement Conscious Route as one of Scotland’s finest and most accomplished artists but, at the same time the album showcases some of Scotland’s finest underground artists. There is also that element of the live instrumentation that gives extra depth to the sound too.

Belterz shows that Scotland has a lot to offer in underground rap music and Conscious Route is one of those accomplished artists that are singing the countries praises from the highest rooftops.

Belterz is out now on True Hold Records.

 

Time for me to be out.

See Ya,

Steve.

LINKS

Get Belterz on Bandcamp:

https://trueholdrecords.bandcamp.com/album/belterz

Streaming Links via the Conscious Route Website:

https://consciousroute.com/belterz-album

Conscious Route Website:

https://consciousroute.com/

Conscious Route Social Media:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Conscious-Route/108346142599877

https://www.instagram.com/conscious_route/

https://twitter.com/consciousroute

https://soundcloud.com/conscious-route

https://www.youtube.com/@consciousroute188/featured

True Hold Records Social Media:

https://www.facebook.com/TrueHoldRecords

https://twitter.com/trueholdrecords

VIDEOS

Day Ones

Amorphous Shape

 

 

Single Review: Hazy New Moon by Ratty The Sly

 

Hazy New Moon

By

Ratty The Sly

 

The producer, DJ and Emcee from Scarborough is back with his latest release on his own Rushed Rat Records, Hazy New Moon. I featured his previous release Bad Weather back in 2022 and am eager to see what this latest release has to offer.

So, let’s get into it…

There is an eerie quality to the sound on this one, with a looped sample, piano and guitar backing a melodic drum beat and with the inclusion of some faint nerve tingling cuts, it really brings a dark sound, reminiscent of being all alone in the woods, as high clouds bring a hazy quality to the new moon. It’s like a cleverly crafted Hip Hop audible found footage vibe, where Ratty catches you at every turn with his lyrics; catching you out with line after line of carefully chosen words to give you more of an insight into who he is and the how’s and why’s of what he does. His vocal delivery has a raw edge that is brought in such a way as to almost whisper in your ear from behind every tree as you seek a way out of the dimly lit forest. Just as it seems you have made it out, this mind-bending jazz-tinged sound hits you and you begin to question it this is real or a dream, and if it is a dream, is it your dream or Ratty’s dream invading your waking nightmare…

Hazy New Moon is one of those tracks that elicits different vibes as you listen. On the one hand it has that found footage kinda vibe but, on the other hand it is just an emcee dropping slick lyrics over a beat with a dark edge, and it could take you to other places, where you question which reality you are currently in.

A very cleverly crafted slice of Hip Hop that seems to cross the veil between this world and the next. It’s not quite horrorcore but, it definitely has that eerie quality about it. Would make a cracking soundtrack to next year’s Halloween, that’s for sure.

Hazy New Moon is out on Digital, streaming and limited vinyl release too via Rushed Rat Records today, don’t let this one creep up on you…

I’m Out,

See Ya,

Steve

LINKS

Link for all things Rushed Rat Records:

https://instabio.cc/RushedRatRecords

Stream on Spotify Here:

https://open.spotify.com/track

Instagram Links:

https://www.instagram.com/rushed_rat_records/

https://www.instagram.com/ratty_the_sly/

 

 

 

Single Review: X1 to Netanya by Jonny Steele

 

X1 to Netanya

By

Jonny Steele

 

X1 to Netanya is the new single from vocalist and beatboxer Jonny Steele of The Scribes. Now, you will all know that I have featured The Scribes a number of times on the blog, but this will be the first appearance by on of the crew on a solo.

I want to approach this review a little differently as I am sure it will provoke some deep feelings along the way so, please join me…

 

Before I get into the song itself lets just have a quick look at the title and see what that says about what you are about to hear. If you search X1 on the net you will find two main results pop up, the BMW X1 and a number of Bus Timetables. These might seem unrelated but, these are both forms of transport, and that idea of a journey is key here. Now search for Netanya and its meaning and things begin to take shape. Netanya is a city in Israel and also a girl’s name, which in Hebrew means ‘god has given’. Now put this all together and you will see that Jonny is focusing on the terrible events which are all over the news as Israel wages war on Hamas in Gaza and how we see it so far away in the UK.  

X1 to Netanya is produced by One Soul and has a laid-back soulful vibe of keys and drums. The overall sound is a reflective one that brings your focus to more spoken word approach from Jonny Steele. The intelligent lyricism and wordplay soaks into all aspects of your awareness as the emotive tone of the words flow. This brings the plight of the Palestinian people well and truly into the light, just as the many peaceful protests are doing but, more than that it also asks why, with all the pain and suffering that is happening, do our own government chose not to call for a ceasefire in this war. In fact, it you truly look at what is happening, it causes you to question everything because, in the past, wars of this nature have been called ‘ethnic cleansing’ but, because this war started as an apparent retaliation to a terrorist attack, that somehow validates what is going on. I do not condone acts of terrorism and never will, so don’t get me wrong here. But is this war truly what is needed? What about the historical plight of the Palestinian people, try to find Palestine on a map, look on-line and you will find it is not even labelled. The problem is a lack of balance in what is reported in the media, listen to the voice of the people and you will begin to see the truth behind all this.

I don’t want to get off track here as I do try to stay neutral in what I write on the blog but, Jonny Steele has chosen to put into words what so many of us are feeling and thinking, on what is going on so many miles away and the lack of any acknowledgement by the UK Government. It was only a matter of time before these thoughts and feelings were put into the words and to music and Jonny has done this subject justice by bringing it into the open and in such an emotive way.

X1 to Netanya is a powerful and thought-provoking piece that truly asks what we as a united peoples are prepared to accept as we look upon the injustices that go on around us and, what are we willing to accept when it comes to the inaction of those we apparently voted to stand up for the people?

Jonny Steele is one voice that echoes the voices of the many and puts that voice into a medium that crosses borders and asks us to stand together as one for those who are not given a voice.

X1 to Natanya is out now and I encourage you to listen and truly feel the message between the lines here.

Till next time,

Steve.

LINKS

To stream the single and for all things related to The Scribes:

https://linktr.ee/thescribes

Jonny Steele on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/jonny_steele_/

One Soul music on Soundcloud:

https://soundcloud.com/omarineosoul

VIDEO

X1 to Netanya (Video by SG Media)

Single Review: Filth 2000AD by Muz Tha Don

 

Filth 2000AD

By

MUZ Tha DON

Filth is the new single from MUZ and is the first single from his forthcoming EP Duality. Following the Wakefield emcees recent singles releases Swords Out, Under His Eye and Quid Game, all of which you can find reviews of on the blog, I was interested to see what this latest single was all about. His previous stuff always has this deep look at life around him and so it was safe to assume that Filth 2000AD would be no different.

So, let’s get into this…

The single comes with a number of mixes from different producers but, I’m gonna kick off with the mix by Traumkl, which will also feature in the video. The sonic sound that Traumkl has weaved for this is a pure assault on the senses. It creates this vibe which shreds every nerve and makes your head feel like you’re a victim of a scanner from David Cronenberg’s movie. The link between this and the novel by Irvine Welsh is not lost as MUZ focuses on the British justice system and those who enforce it in the public domain. There is a raw brutality to his words as he tears into the police and that far from being there to protect and serve the citizen’s, all they seem to do is enforce the wishes of the government. They have been given powers against those who chose to protest, even in a peaceful manner, such as the BLM protests and they even label protesters as terrorists and jihadists when they stand up for the persecution of others like the Palestinian peoples, as we have seen recently. It makes you wonder they are there to stand up for and protect the people or if they are there to keep us in line. Muz does such a good job putting the whole system in his sights and speaking up in a truthful and unapologetic nature and when you mix that with Traumkl’s sonic sound it creates something that you almost can’t bear to listen to but, at the same time, is strangely engaging.

Now, there are three additional remixes of the song that come with the single release and I’m gonna take a quick look at each and see if and how these remixes work with the subject matter of the track…

First up is the remix by ChillsMyth, which combines a laid-back beat with some chilled organ vibes which really calms the delivery of MUZ’s vocals. It helps bring a more thoughtful air to the track giving more focus to the lyrics allowing them the stage to really speak to you.

Next up is the remix by Micro Deform, this one brings another assault on the senses with a heavy industrial sonic sound that rips your awareness apart and seems, like the original from Traumkl, to reflect the often-brutal nature of justice and the police. There is this slight change to the musical vibe as the track plays out, and almost thinks thing are getting better before ending with a sound that reminds you that’s not the case.

Finally, we have the Pandamonium Remix, which takes a more boom bap beat and mixes it with harp and electronic sounds that gets you head nodding while still twisting those already frayed nerves. This mix allows more focus on the vocals once more and in a way that will appeal to the Hip Hop headz big time.

 

Releasing this one on Halloween is a stroke of genius because the brutal nature of the track which shines a light on the often-horrific nature of how the police and justice systems treat the people they are supposed to protect, is pretty much the worst kind of horror movie you can imagine. When your protectors become the enforcers, it causes to wonder the true nature of what sort of society we are living in, especially when people are persecuted for exercising their right to free speech and standing up for injustice and what they truly believe in. It does seem that these cases of police brutality and the unfair treatment of the justice system, is on the rise and MUZ sees this and brings this fairly and squarely into our awareness in an unflinching manor.

His words seem to be delivered in a brutal way to reflect the nature of the subject matter. His flow and lyrics still have that slick nature but, the delivery gives them a suitable edge that is exactly what is needed when dealing with this kind of subject.

I have to say that this sets up a very interesting and deep vibe for the coming EP and if you listen to one single this Halloween, make it this one and see which mix hits you the hardest.

Filth 2000AD is out today.

My thanks to Muz for giving me the opportunity to review this one.

I need a rest after that one,

See Ya,

Steve.

LINKS

Streaming links to follow

Get Filth 2000AD on Bandcamp Here:

https://murypoppinz.bandcamp.com/album/filth-2000ad 

Muz Tha Don YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@BadLOOKTV/videos

VIDEOS

Filth 2000AD Official Video

Video will be added once live

 

Album Review: The Craft by K-Saulz & Diffhop

 

The Craft

By

K-Saulz & DiffHop

 

It was way back in March of 2022 that K-Saulz and production duo DiffHop dropped The Abstract Arsonist EP, a release that lit a fire under the floor of the UK scene, making people sit up and take notice of the guys from South Wales. They also released a single, Stranger, in July that year, keeping up the hype from the EP.

Now the guys are back, on Bard Picasso Records, and this time with a full album, The Craft, to treat us to more of their brand of Hip Hop. With one single, Lost In Space ft BMellow & Harkos, already under their belt, this release promises a wealth of boom bap beats and slick rap vocals.

Let’s not hang around here and get straight into it…

 

Puzzles is the little intro here that gives us this little soundscape that is rooted in guitar notes while it gives us a little insight into what is to come as the sampled vocal describes how words form the basis of rap and how getting deep into how you use words is the foundation of the emcees craft. Words are like blank jigsaw pieces and the emcee is the one crafting something special from what is before him. From there we move straight into the albums title track, The Craft. Opening with a sample from Silence Of The Lambs, it features Brighty and DJ Jaffa on the cut; the beat drops with drums, bass and a heavy violin sample, which gives this a deep atmospheric vibe. The Craft is, of course, the art of emceeing and of taking a jumble of words, phrases, similes, and metaphors, and then creating something that has meaning, depth and can be instantly relatable or enjoyed by the listener; and all done to a beat that helps to solidify the message or that sense of fun that is being conveyed. With just a brief moment to consider what the craft of emceeing is and what it means to the emcee, we are catapulted, by words and music, beyond the confines of the planet, to where we find ourselves Lost In Space. The one track to have features and where we find BMellow (UK) and Harkos (US) joining the crew. A heavy beat and strings combine to create the kind of soundscape that helps you imagine floating in the endless universe or just closing your eyes and floating within your own mind. How you see it is your choice as the emcees spin tales that are as at home in the here and now as they are as the memories of those floating aimlessly among the stars.

An uplifting, chilled out vibe of Keys, drums, and strings, brings a thoughtful air on Pulverise while the pounding beat keeps you moving. Clever wordplay sees K-Saulz spin an audible kaleidoscope around what it is to live our lives. Listening to the words that twist and turn in your mind really is like the ups and downs of daily life as you do your best to makes ends meet and get the most from every moment. Ahead of the Game is another short skit that continues the narrative from Puzzles, further elaborating on the process of writing and creating as an emcee. Strings and drums are the main component of the soundscape for Silence is deadly, this creates a vibe that seems to have you on edge as you listen. This fits perfectly as this one is all about the anticipation, the pause before something happens; in that moment anything is possible as the mind awaits what is to come, sometimes knowing and sometimes unknowing, that brief moment is the place where dreams can be born and crushed or where a moment of peace seemingly becomes the opposite what it truly is…

Nightmare On Self Street has this sound of keys, drums and strings that creates this deep dark vibe. This perfectly fits with this tale of the dark and confused moments in the mind, where nothing seems to fit or make sense and we begin to question everything around us; just until that moment we wake and wonder if that nightmare was all just a dream or if we did just live it? These moments where we question our sanity can often lead to moments of clarity, we just need to write it down and try to understand the true meaning behind it. Synth vibes draw us into Crossbone before the beat drops and gets your head nodding to this brooding sound that wouldn’t be out of place in a horror movie. Featuring Dick Dastardly and DW Smith, the whole track is like an unapologetic, X-Rated brutal assault on your eardrums and your mind. There are no punches pulled and no fucks given on this one, and the more you listen the more it sounds like John Carpenter meets Hip Hop, so enjoy. Crazy Chicks, featuring A Gent Orange, then drops with an easier going sound that has a bit more a tongue-in-cheek vibe about it. This one is like an alternative love story that focuses on the kind of women you can’t help but, love even though they might not be the most trustworthy; there is just something about them that’s gets you hooked every time.

Let Me Tell You has that summer vibe about it with an uplifting soulful vibe of drums, guitar, and strings. The vibe here is all about those days when your parents were away and you were home alone and so you got a huge party organised, one that goes so well, at least to start with, before quickly spiralling out of control into a 24-hour session that you realise has gone so bad when you parents pull up in the driveway. Saxophone and strings help us float into The Dark Passenger, featuring The Honest Poet, then the beat drops with a piano heavy sound and bringing a deeper thoughtful vibe. This is an emotive tale of addiction and broken, fractured relationships and how they can so deeply affect all those around them. As much as this shows the pain and suffering that can be caused, especially within the family unit, it is also a cautionary tale that shows we all have a choice to make; we can bury our own pain, or we can share it with those around us and let them help us find a road to recovery. The penultimate and last full track of the album is You Made Me which has a deep emotive sound created by Keys, strings, harp, and drums. A beautiful track that explores those who make us who we are, from our children, our mothers, our wives, these are the ones who can be so close to us and make us look at who we are, changing us to one of the truest expressions of our true self. The moments we share with our loved ones are the moments which can change our lives for the good and for always. The album ends with the Outro Skit – Doom, wise words on inspiration from MF DOOM.

 

The Craft is a rollercoaster ride of sound and content that explores just how expressive the art of rap and Hip Hop music can truly be. You can almost sum it up in that one sentence alone, although there is a lot more to it than that alone.

What K-Saulz and DiffHop (Dave Pearce & Lee Hardy) have is to explore not just what it is to be an emcee and how they do what they do but, also what it means to be an emcee, someone whose craft is to play with words and meanings, and then to create entertaining and expressive music that connects with the listener. If you truly think about it the emcee has to connect with the producer, the DJ, the guest artists and the listeners; without those connections the music will not be all it could be.

K-Saulz and DiffHop have that connection that allows them to bring out the best in each other and making their sound have that edge that not only sounds great but, feels great too. That leads to a connection with the guest artists and a mutual respect that further deepens the sound and feel of the album. All of that coming together creates the connection to the listener who can feel the energy created by those connections, and they relate to every track with a message and just enjoy the vibe of those that are just for fun or expressing the complex wordplay, and that will make them want to hear more. So, there is an aspect of the album that is about connection but, it is also about K-Saulz cleaver, expressive and intricate wordplay; it is about DiffHop and their slick production which creates a whole audible experience.

Overall, The Craft is a solid album that has one foot rooted firmly in the roots of Hip Hop music, while the other foot is never rooted anywhere but, is constantly searching out new avenues to explore and bring to the music. There are emotive tracks that deal with some tricky subjects in a sensitive way and there are tracks that also just display the fun you can have with wordplay. There is a bit of everything here that will make it highly entertaining but, it’s definitely not for younger ears.

The Craft is out on 28^th October on Bard Picasso Records, and I highly suggest you give this one a listen, you won’t regret it.

On that Note,

I’m outta here.

Steve.

LINKS

Get your copy of the album through Bandcamp Here:

https://k-saulz.bandcamp.com/album/the-craft-lp

The Craft streaming links Here:

https://songwhip.com/ksaulz/thecraft

Get you copy of the album and check everything K-Saulz on his official Website:

https://www.k-saulz.co.uk/

 

Album Review: Kansul Everything by Kansul Culture

 

Kansul Everything

By

Kansul Culture

 

Many of you will be familiar with Dweller, Kansul and the Live from the Groove label. You might also be familiar with the Kansul Culture EP which dropped back in September of 2022; this album is the follow to that EP and expands on their creative flow.

Now, the easiest way for me to set up the review is to drop Dwellers own words on this project:

Kansul Culture is a concept born in lockdown by Dweller and Kansul. Following the Kansul Culture EP this LP presents a walk through the mind of Kansul, an anonymous M.C. who keeps his identity hidden behind a mask. Unplugging from modern society where social media followers are currency and algorithms impute value to art, Kansul Culture is the antithesis and antihero. As fiercely individual and unique as it is rebellious and creative, this album refuses to be pigeonholed. Switching lanes between genres as easily as Kansul switches from spoken words and rhyming to singing, you should sit back and prepare for a journey into the souls and minds of these two immense talents. Recorded in lockdown, Dweller would patiently craft the beats in isolation and await Kansul to send down vocal files which were slotted into each track as the album came together. Then DJ Simon C and TMB would record cuts and fire them over to be layered on top as the collective worked together remotely but connected by the creative project. When restrictions finally ended and in-person collaboration was possible, A. Lofthouse visited Dweller’s home studio to play Brass sections over selected tracks and the project was complete.

All that considered, there is only one way to truly feel this project, and that is to dive into the album. So, please join me as we look to Kansul Everything…

 

The first thing that you get a sense of is the multi-layered sound and all the elements that come together to on this album. Anymore kicks things off with a soulful sounding vibe that has drum, guitar, strings, keys, and cuts, all combined bring that soulful sound but, still with the Hip Hop roots. The static sound that crackles in the background gives the impression that you are immersing yourself in a vinyl release. Kansul switches between slick rap vocals and a sung hook as he introduces us to who he now is, not question things anymore but, more living in the moment and making that a statement. Bad D.N.A has this emotive sound that comes from a melodic beat over which is this organ sound, which has an almost eerie quality, while this ticking cymbal sound cycles through your awareness, keeping you from drifting too far.  The emotive aspect works so well as Kansul speaks on misspent youth, where the focus is on power and money, and the choices made in that pursuit so often take people down the wrong path. A head nod beat mixed with keys, xylophone, horns, and bass are the foundation for Lessons, which creates an uplifting vibe. Kansul’s cleaver lyrics, even switching to a ragga sound on the hook, to deliver a message, line by line, that relates to each lesson as it is detailed, bringing each lesson alive in your mind, and making you realise that you never stop learning on your life’s journey as every person and situation has something to teach you.

Not Listening brings more xylophone, bass, and horns that brings this chilled jazzy vibe sound. This is one of those you wanna sit back, close your eyes, and relax to. Kansul, once more, switches from sharp rap vocals to a more soulful sung hook. This one is very much a look at those people who have much to say but have never really listened throughout their life. To have an opinion on anything, you have to be some level of understanding and, or be prepared to listen and learn, don’t allow the lessons that life teaches you to fall on deaf ears; be openminded and ready to take the message onboard and grow, if you do not you will end up hollow and without a real voice. Next up is the short Kansul Culture (Interlude), a proper head nod beat with organ notes that looks at what the Kansul Culture is. Strings form the background to No Rest before the beat drops in giving you a laid-back head nod vibe. There is deep message here that really says that not matter how you seem to that closest to you, if you spend too much time dabbling in a dark life there will be no rest for you. There also seems to be a deeper message that asks you to question and look at who you truly are, because only by doing that can you express and receive positiveness in your live.

Nobody brings a sound that puts you in mind of summer days and jams, with chilled drums and keys there is a laid-back funk vine to this one. As you listen to this one you really get the sense that this one speaks to you on another lever, telling you that we are all equal, no one is better than anyone else. We might have different skills but, we all do our best to live our lives the best we can and that is what makes us equals. Heavy drums and piano vibes give a heavy sound for Lost Soul, making you want to punch the air as you listen, until the sung hook brings a slight melodic break. Here Kansul is able to go in full in full lyrical flow; bringing the soul back to the music where it is so often missing. There is the sense that the commercial music scene and making money is what really stole the soul and now it’s all about bringing that soul back. A chilled drum beat, keys and strings bring a nice mellow sound that puts back into a kick back vibe on Revolving Door. Kansul once more mixes his sharp rap vocals with a sung hook. Here he looks at how so many of the experiences we go through seem to have a similar cause and effect, giving us this feeling like we’ve been through this before but, maybe not with the sample people, it’s just the way things play out seems so similar, just like we occasionally get stuck in a revolver door, just for a while before moving on…

The penultimate track, which begins the process of bringing the album to a close is All Said And Done, a looped music box melody alongside soft strings, horns, and sparce beat creates an emotive sound that seems to touch your heart. Kansul mixes his rap vocals and sung elements to great effect here, creating a vocal vibe that emulates the music. The message here comes with this reflective air that speaks on life, how we live it and all those challenges we experience along the way; how we see our life and the choices we make is so important too. This track has an almost counselling effect to it, touching the very depths of your soul and reminding you just who you truly are and to always be that best expression of yourself. The album ends with No Place To Go, a jazzy sounding outro of horns, strings, guitar, and an upbeat drum sound. The sampled vocals hint that this is the end of the road and there is no place to go now but, it’s only a hint because this is only the end of the album and not the end of everything; I guess that where you go from here depends on your experience of what you just heard, you can put more music on or just sit and muse over what you just heard, It’s all up to you…

 

An album like Kansul Everything, gives you much to ponder as you reflect on what you just heard. On one side you have the fact that this is a journey into the mind of Kansul who brings his experiences and his own thoughts on life, to bear on this album, taking the listener to many different places and allowing them to experience many emotions along the way but, on the other hand, what Kansul does is to give you enough information to also look inside yourself too so, as much as this is an album about Kansul, it is also an invitation to look into a mirror that reflects you own life back at you.

Kansul does not do this alone however, and Dweller crafts some soulful and emotive soundscapes that, not only provide the perfect platform for Kansul’s words but, these are musical emotions that help create that audible mirror for you look into and to feel everything as you progress from track to track. The fact that this was all put together during the lockdown period and only finished off later, makes you realise just how amazing music is and how it can bring out the best in people, during the process of writing and recording, even though Kansul and Dweller were miles apart, and how they, by putting their heart and soul into this, are able to have such an effect on the listener.

Kansul Everything might seem like a jazzy, funky, conscious Hip Hop album but, it is more than that, it  is a genre and vibe breaking album that erases the borders between genres, time and space; bringing a sound and narrative created by two that is so easily associated and enjoyed by the many.  

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

Kansul Everything is out today, digital only, on Live From The Groove and when you download the album from Bandcamp you will receive the bonus remixes: Revolving Door (Kista Remix), Anymore and No Rest (Remixed by Kuartz) and Bad D.N.A (DJ OP1 Remix), so what more of an incentive do you need to grab a copy…

 

On that note,

I’m out, see ya…

Steve.

LINKS

Get you copy from Bandcamp Here:

https://livefromthegroove.bandcamp.com/album/kansul-everything

Live From The Groove Website:

https://www.livefromthegroove.com/

Live From The Groove Instagram:

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

Kansul Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/kansul_music/

Live From The Groove Linktr.ee:

https://linktr.ee/livefromthegroove

 

VIDEOS

Kansul Everything (Full Album)

 

 

Single Review: Tracy Song / 4 Meters by David Chalfant

 

Tracy Song / 4 Meters

By

David Chalfant

 

Tracy Song and its B-Side 4 Meters by David Chalfant is the debut release from Unsettled Scores Records and before I get into this release, I think it’s important to give you some background.

Firstly, Unsettled Score records is the brainchild of Dan Sawkins (aka Deejay Skamrok) and when the chance to review this release came up I asked him about the new label and how it came about and this is what he had to say:

The idea for the label came about around 2015/6, I was into a bunch of the soundtrack labels at the time and had a list of titles in my head that I wished someone would release, not thinking for a second it was something I could do as I thought you had to have major backing to start a label. Then I heard an interview with Kevin Bergeron from Waxwork Records, he said when starting the label, he was denied a bank loan, so he sold off his musical equipment to get the money together. Hearing that interview made me realise I could do it myself too without a loan or any backing. All the money it took to start my label has been 100% funded by selling records from my personal collection.

With that in mind, I wondered what the label was likely to release moving forward:

There’s gonna be a mixed bag of music coming from Unsettled Scores Records in the coming years, there’s so many obscure on screen tunes that I want to see on my label but also very well-known scores and soundtracks to movies that I grew up with, this won’t be a label dedicated to one style of music, Hip Hop will always be my first love but my taste in music generally is wide so expect all sorts.

 

So, lets move on to this debut release, back in 2002 the classic 1983 documentary about the New York graffiti scene, ‘Style Wars’ saw an expanded 2-DVD release that included a host of bonus extras. Part of those bonus extra’s was a section called “Classic Hits” from Tracy 168 (who sadly passed away recently) which featured some rare super 8 footage of some of the early writers of the mid-70s. The track playing over that section has never seen the light of day until now, and that track is Tracey Song, which was composed especially for this footage by David Chalfant, the son of Henry Chalfant the photographer and videographer who documented so much of the Hip Hop culture including ‘Style Wars’ and many books.

Now, if it was not enough that Tracy Song now receives its long overdue release, but David Chalfant also recorded a brand-new track to serve as the flip side to this release, 4 Meters. How amazing is that…

So, please join me on my journey into this release…

Tracy Song has this infectious Latin Rock vibe that makes it hard to anything else but, nod your head move your body to the music. The drums, bass and guitars create this energetic sound that fuels the adrenaline and injects every joint of your body with this desire to move to the groove. However, there is also the connection to ‘Style Wars’ and for those who know, the more you listen, the more it puts you in mind of the documentary and the energy in the sound makes you think of what it must have felt like for the writers, out there after dark in the train yards and subway tunnels or on the subway trains themselves, expressing who they were and making their mark the only way they knew how, ‘on society’. Whenever, the writers went out they would be putting themselves at risk of arrest or even death as they jumped the third rail or avoided oncoming subway trains; the energy running through their bodies in those moments is what David Chalfant has captured on this track but, in a way that brings enjoyment and pays homage to what those writers were doing.

4 Meters has a far more funk infused sound, still using the drums, bass, keys, and electric guitar but, that 70’s funk vibe brings a different feel, while still keeping you moving to the groove. For those of us who still have that Graff connection in mind, David has created a sound here that seems to move you from the thrill of the previous night to a whole new thrill; this time it’s a whole new day and it’s all about getting out there to see your tags, throw-ups and pieces running on the trains as they pass by, “uptown, downtown, all over”. Writers went from tags on the trains and walls, to getting their names up bigger and better, with a desire to go all-city.   

 

What is amazing about this release is that it appeals to such a wide range of listeners; The Hip Hop heads will love it for its connection to ‘Style Wars’ and the graffiti scene as part the culture but, it will also appeal to those who love the Graff scene but, who are not exclusively Hip Hop, those who love soundtracks will love it as a previously unreleased piece of music and then it will also appeal to those who love good music or the Latin vibe or funk vibe, the list is almost endless because, at the end of the day, if you love the way music makes you feel and uplifts you, then this one is, most definitely, for you.

Unsettled Scores Records has, for it’s debut release, brought you a slice of history backed by something new and unheard from a composer that most will be unfamiliar with but, in doing that they have brought the name David Chalfant into lives of many and made a very bold and exciting statement as to what to expect from the label as it moves forward.

For me, I found that overall, Tracy Song and 4 Meters showed just how universal music can be. In one context, it fits with the Graff scene and its mid-70s roots but, even if you take away that context and the connection to Hip Hop, you still have two fantastic tracks, with slightly different styles of inspiration, from David Chalfant that you can enjoy no matter where you are or what you are doing.

Not only do I highly recommend this one for your collection but, I suggest that you keep an eye on Unsettled Scores Records in the future and perhaps look out for the name of David Chalfant as well.

 

My humble thanks to Dan for allowing me to review this debut release.

I would like to dedicate this review to the memory of the late Tracy 168 R.I.P.

 

On that note,

Be seeing ya,

Steve.

LINKS

Get your copy from Bandcamp Here:

https://davidchalfant.bandcamp.com/album/tracy-song

Unsettled Scores Records Website:

https://www.unsettledscoresrecords.com/

Unsettled Scores Records Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/unsettled_scores_records/

VIDEOS

TRACY 168: CLASSIC HITS (taken from the 2002 DVD edition of STYLE WARS). Music by David Chalfant.