Dubstep bass-and-beats with an MC focus. For the first listen I wasn’t aware that it was produced by The Bug, still I was quite aware. Nice flow, well done words.
Luke Cage – season 2
I liked the first season for the cultural aspect, for telling a lot about Harlem and seemed like something authentic. In that respect, it seemed to tell a lot more about and go much deeper into black culture than the Black Panther ever did, even though this is much more the grim side of the story, but what can you do when it’s there.
And then the second season seemed like starting slow, and after a while I realized that it remained slow, I just got adjusted to the speed. And it took its time (1 hour long episodes? That’s balls.), and went deep into the minds of the characters, and I liked that a lot. It stayed culturally relevant, showed struggle, and when it came to some hit-hard turning points it just did hit hard and I went “wow, I didn’t see that coming” a few times. The Punisher was dark and a slasher but that was still a super hero flick on its own terms. Luke Cage’s season two is a super hero drama with some heavy shit going on. It was not an easy ride at all times, but it was well worth the time and attention.
The Interrupters – Fight the Good Fight
It’s one of those instant classic records, which have the real potential to become timeless. Could have happened any time in the past decade and will probably sound the same a decade from now. Huge ska punk-rock summer hit parade all over.
Phase Fatale – Reverse Fall
RA writes “Hayden Payne’s records package the lunging ferocity of EBM and industrial into a sound you could loosely describe as techno.” Ex-act-ly what I had in mind, all these three cornerstones just like that. I also like the idea that this came through Ostgut Ton.
Rival Consoles – Persona
I wrote some notes about Howl in 2015 when it made it to my Top 10 albums of the year. Most of those hold true for Persona. Although this one is not that elemental and cosmic but closer to earth and more looking up from here. Same vibes, same sounds, same great music though.
Leon Vynehall – Nothing Is Still
Downtempo, ambient, on the brink of modern composition but still the electronic music kind and not the classical music version. It is a nice ride as a concept album and also great vibe for work. With a last record of house beats this one as a first after Vynehall’s moving to Ninja Tune is an exciting twist, we’ll see what comes around next if he sticks to the ninjas.
Ólafur Arnalds – re:member
Classic Ólafur Arnalds. Beautiful and sad, like life.
Muertos – Suck It Up
Psychedelic rock and low-fi garage. (Probably like the cover better than the music.)
Saint Agnes – The Witching Hour
It’s like the female version of King Dude.
Girls Names – Stains on Silence
Refreshingly nothing special, simple alternative rock shoegazer album. It’s like your friend’s band from high school.