No Frills Reviews

Revival Season Golden Age Of Self Snitching

Given their name and the sound of their earlier singles, I had expected the debut from Revival Season to be a lot more of a throwback, but its strength actually lies in its eclecticism. The Atlanta duo comprises rapper, Brandon “BEZ” Evans, and producer, Jonah Swilley. Swilley is also known for his work as part of garage rockers, Mattiel, and there’s a constant sense of genre-fusion running throughout the album.

There is definitely a throwback element, most notably in the album’s second half, with the stuttering samples on Chop and Pump having a distinctly Beasties flavour to them. But the album’s early moments feel a lot closer to Run The Jewels as heavy-hitting electro beats drive an increasing urgency, which is matched in Evan’s’ breathless flow. Elsewhere, there’s hints of reggae, trippy funk, and even the dreaded rap-rock hybrid. But it’s an excellent take on it, with the scuzzy psych-blues on Everybody being reminiscent of The Black Keys.

The shape-shifting genres are mirrored in the moods, which move between ominous and triumphant. And Evans is like the wise old-head overseeing it all, providing somber insights or disappointedly critiquing the errors of society today. But where the messaging can get heavier, the stylistic fluidity is there to provide a contrast and there’s always a lightness underpinning things. An inventive album that still feels effortlessly fun.

Best tunes: Look Out Below, Last Dance, Everybody

Honourable Mentions

Heems & Lapgan LAFANDAR: On his first (kind of) solo outing in almost a decade, the former Das Racist rapper brings along a choice selection of underground names, from Saul Williams to UK veteran, Lee Scott. Lapgan’s production is subtly psychedelic, incorporating South-Asian sounds to complement Heems’ casually erudite wordplay, which can see him offering thoughtful reflections on Indian-American experiences or just basking in the glory of having a song with Kool Keith.

Spectacular Diagnostics If You Feel Like a Lost Soul: The veteran Chicago producer’s latest project is 22 minutes of old school boom-bap beats and record scratching wizardry, shrouded in eerie ambience. The sounds are familiar but something doesn’t quite feel right about them; it’s leaves you feeling like you’re caught between consciousness and sleep (FYI – that’s called hypnagogia. Thanks Google).

The God Fahim x Cookin Soul Supreme Dump Legend: Soul Cook Saga: The ultra-prolific Atlanta MC combines with the Spanish producer for some Wu-Tang-esque cinematic boom bap.

Kanye West & Ty Dolla $ign VULTURES 1

It’s not a complete disaster, but it’s not good either. Away from all the controversy, Kanye really just isn’t very interesting here. Despite some hints of the old Kanye in the production, the humour and contradictions that made him so compelling in the past are all but absent; with womanising and misogyny being the album’s only discernible themes. This could well have been called Mid-life Crisis: The Album. Oh and Ty Dolla $ign is also there.

Best tunes: DO IT, BURN, GOOD (DON’T DIE)

Full Review

Fivio Foreign Pain & Love 2

At under 30 minutes and with plenty of decent features, this is easily enjoyable, perfectly solid commercial trap. But it’s a sound which is becoming increasingly dated, and there’s nothing in the production here that tries to be anything more than functional. Fivio doesn’t have the personality to elevate this above average and he’s often outshone by his guests. The storytelling is bland; generic talk of adversity over struggles that lacks the detail to make you care about Fivio above the scores of rappers that have peddled the same tales.

Best tunes: Who Knew, Same 24, Get Deady

Yeat 2093

There’s some mindlessly fun industrial trap amongst genuinely experimental production choices here. But, at 22 songs and 70 minutes, everything is stretched out to the point it becomes a tuneless dirge and it’s an absolute slog to get through. There’s a mildly interesting artist in there but, unfortunately, their style is built around the worst hip-hop trends of the last 15 years.

Standout tune: Breathe

Fatboi Sharif & Roper Williams Something About Shirley

A ten-minute, one-track EP of disturbingly thrilling avant-garde hip-hop from a duo at the forefront of experimental rap. Read the full review for a rambling attempt to explain the magnetic, otherworldly brilliance of Sharif and Williams.

Full Review

pty CALIGINOUS

Caliginous – an adjective meaning dark, dim, or misty. That kind of tells you what you need to know about this album. I hate the term soundscape as it’s usually used to describe the most boringly pretentious music. But it’s fitting here because this isn’t just a collection of songs. For half an hour, you’re transported into a barren, post-apocalyptic world. Tracks bleed into each other marked by the slightest tempo shifts, with a lone horn periodically re-appearing, like the last man alive softly wailing away into the ether.

pty is a teenage producer from Lisburn, NI and he invites a parade of upcoming rappers to step into the world he’s created. From New Jersey’s 95Smokey, who was featured last month, to the delightfully/dreadfully named, Rap Man Gavin, from Cape Town. Some of the features can be more miss than hit, but that’s part of the fun as voices come and go. It’s like they’ve been told to freestyle on what darkness and pain means to them, and are left trying to survive their turn in this bleak atmosphere.

Woozy, ambient trip-hop; like Portishead making an underground rap record.

Standout tune: MALICIOUS INTENT

Read our introduction to pty interview here.