clipping : "Dead Channel Sky"

This hip-hop project breaks away from the more conventional to follow the trail blazed by the likes of Aesop Rock. Not really sure why they have been booked on a darkwave festival, but their grooves are lo-fi and interesting.  "Change the Channel' wants to be "Firestarter" before going into Super Mario Brothers-inspired 8-bit glee. "Run It' comes closer to the status quo of underground hip-hop. The vintage synths will be the key selling point to some, while I am listening to this album to see if the songwriting holds up to the hype. Unlike most hip-hop artists these days, they do not have a team of producers and songwriters to supplement the lack of talent. 

After a few interludes, "Code"  comes back with a more interesting groove. The sci-fi theme works well, as the album has a slight dystopian vibe, though not to the point of being industrial. There is a glitchy, noisy sound coloring the edges of the atmosphere as the pace picks up for " Dodger." The fact that the lyrics are spit with a quickness rather than in a slurred auto-tuned mumble gives these guys an edge over most. Nels Cline adds some guitar to one interlude, but it is not really a song. "Scams" is more like traditional hip-hop, with a minimalist beat. With this comes a more vapid lyrical content. "Keep Pushing" finds a more interesting synth sound powering things, but the lyrical flow is less interesting. 

The album continues to be littered with interludes and soundscapes that toy with a collage of pseudo-futuristic noise. "Mood Organ" is more experimental than, and while there is a stream of consciousness rap to it, things ride the border of being a song, though I think they intend it to be one. "Polaroids" finds the more spoken word feel of the vocals continue to degrade the album's integrity, which is disappointing as the first handful of songs had so much promise. "Madcap" finds some interesting production choices that create a more unique feel. 

"Mirror Shades" makes me think of Madonna's "Justify My Love," which is covered by Cardi B. My comparison to Aesop Rock pays off, as he makes an appearance on "Welcome Home Warrior," which seems to be about video games. His verse pretty much saves the song. The last song finds aimless rapping over ambiance, as if they have no clue as to what worked earlier in the album. A beat does not come in til halfway into the song, and then it does not groove. I'll round this down to an 8, as the album started strong, and it does take more chances than most hip-hop, though that is a pretty low bar. This is out  on Sub-Pop Records 

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