Skepta - Konnichiwa

The very long anticipated grime album has finally been released, May the 6th. Not sure why its taken me so long to review it. BUT... Here it is, Konnichiwa by hot shot of grime, Skepta. 

I believe this has taken so long because Skepta has been very selective of tracks and how much was being put on there. Under the impression this album is meant to flow and have the same feel through out. 

 

 

First track, Konnichiwa. Very typical and predictable with Japanese classical samples. Works well as an intro though. Moving swiftly to the second track, Lyrics. Annoying Wiley skit to begin with from a sample from an old rave. The beat is grimey, almost sounds classic. Something Pay As You Go Cartel would cypher to back in the early 2000's, this track features Novelist. There are a few Dizzee Rascal referents within Skepta's bars. There is a whole theory going around about secret beef between Dizzee and Skepta, with sly digs within the bars of track eight, Man. "I don't know why man's calling me family all of a sudden, like hmmm my Mum don't know your mum stop telling man you're my cousin." 

This is apparently Skepta's aggravated response to an interview that Dizzee featured in America talking about the grime movement. He said that him and Skepta used to be tight at each others houses and shit. Petty shit to be honest. Skepta then bangs on about solo careers and how back then a certain someone was a big deal. In my opnion, Skepta has no reason to be this sly. It's not his style and if it is a sly diss then grow up and get some balls boy, you're 33 now. Obviously this album features Shutdown, fuck me I'm sick of this song now this is released. Plays straight after Man, and if you need info on this track, you need to stop reading this because you're clueless. All I want to give you is, this was also produced by Ragz. Then we are followed by That's Not Me featuring Skepta's nerdy brother, JME. This song was released in 2013, majorly old. A banger none the less. I think this is where Skepta first really got back to his roots, this one separated him from the shit he was doing and moved him onto a more positive path for his career. Always do what you love, it's what you'll do best. Next track I want to mention is Text Me Back. Ragz was also on production of this as well as Jason Adenuga. There is a very old school Roll Deep feel with Dizzee Rascal styled drums, almost off beat. The beat is very chill, old school grime heads will appreciate this a lot. The first verse is about texting a girl he appreciates, I don't want to say love. I son't get that feeling, maybe its the beat. The second verse refers to being ignorant to his mother, because he's making movements. Very predictable really. It then fades out and then an instrumental comes in, quite funky and unexpected to be honest. 

All in all, happy the singles were featured in this song, i don't think the Devilman diss 'Nasty' would of gone a miss on this. There are one or two tracks you'll end up skipping but all in all the production in full is high quality. Im not sure what the long wait was in aid of, but the release time has seemed to work in Skepta's favour, and with his live shows. Only thing that pisses me off is the skits, they're long winded and cringey. As a listener they are irrelevant, maybe its a personal thing to Skepta? None the less, this album hit number one in the iTunes album chart. Over Drake's album, Views. Which was released on the same day. That is impressive, so TN hats off to you Skepta, fair fucking play. 

Deftones - Gore

Never been much of a fan of Deftones to be honest, they produce drowny music that just clash in every area for my ears. I don't mind the old school song - Back To School, purely for the nostalgia. Nostalgia aside, the song itself is fucking shit. These guys from America none the less are a big hit with teenagers, in my view they are a stepping stone to better things in the musical library. Well, I hope so.

Skip track one (Prayers/Triangles), its terrible, the vocals are exactly what you are hoping Chino Moreno would avoid doing. To me, his vocals are imitations of brain dead people in mental asylums moaning. I can hear the growth in less angry music here, and more powerful full sounds. Harmonising backing vocals. Acid Hologram is the second song, the intro is something i like, high end sounding chords, over and over drowning. In fairness to Chino his voice compliments this song. Discovered a reverb, delay pedal or plug in for vocals. A little over done as we get deeper into this track. I can't put my finger on this sort of stuff. Is it meant to have no structure? Are we meant to be thrown off? The verses themselves are good. As it gets back into the second verse you start to get back into it, but once again it goes off on one. Fuck it, this track is shit too. Doomed User is a song that starts with a DJ sample, 14 year olds are going to love this aren't they? Hip as fuck. We get some doomy stoner metal sounds and suddenly full classic metal riffs come in, and the singing is literally all over the place. Chino fucked up. 

I feel this album is really rushed, a few riffs were made here and there. A lick from years ago that wasn't used have been fitted into irrelevant songs. Forget the actual sound though, what throws me off is the vocals. Too filtered with effects and backing vocals that do not compliment each other. I don't know if Im missing the bigger picture? The lyrical content is ridiculous, I love a riddle but this makes no sense. Let's listen to the song Gore... 

We have a less is more intro, something a bit different to the previous listening. And just as some nice full power chords come in, big drums too. Screaming, Chino lay off this shit. The whole album flow with the same production value's which is good but boring, this vocal channel is used the whole way through. 

Let's cut this short because I do not rate this album in the slightest, I feel bummed out for Deftones fans for this pile of disappointment. Terrible album, but if you are a kid who lives with a religious family. You only have access to cassettes of hymns and country songs about God and values, and you feel the need to rebel and paint a massive 'A' anarchy logo on your back. Grab this, you'll enjoy it. You will probably walk through town with your hood up playing this loud out from your phone. Fucking goth. 

Listen HERE... I wouldn't bother though, it's nothing original.

Flatsound - Sleep

Im going to be brutally honest, i saw this (album?) come up as a suggestion on Youtube, and once again the album art gripped me. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect because recently to this date, i've been listening to a lot of random shit. Some good. Some terrible. 

I can't do too much research on Flatsound, but what I can, is all personally put up from a blog. There are various titles about, but this is the one i want to write about. Im under the impression Flatsound consists of a solo artist named Mitch from California. Very emo arty sort of guy it seems. Soft acoustic sounds are what to expect, and I really like the fusion of trumpets and background sounds you get throughout this album, they are very faint with the soft airy vocals. It works. 

The first song starts after a door creaking sound and chimes, the guitar comes in lightly. This first song is named Sleep. The voice as a first time listener is enjoyable and intriguing. I actually dig it a lot, and then the acoustics get a very slight distort sound as it gets louder, and self backing vocals come into a part of the build up. I will state this now, this is easily my favourite song of the album, it will more than likely be yours too. I can imagine this going well to summery footage of two twats in love running around. Im not knocking it, its a good thing. If You Love Me Come Clear is the next song, and the instrumental style is very much the same but lighter, but the vocals turn much softer, and it works well and is touching in its own manor. Lyrically, its very Tumblr... Very yolo statement. Predictable I guess,but the point comes across. From here on out, we get a very much same sound, and admittedly, it gets boring. But maybe this is because Im a first time listener and i want more change? Perhaps Flatsound fans like this and stay for it. Change comes around once we get to the track To See You Alive, this is nice. The vocals are much less whispered. He sings, please do this more it works very well. It's short and within the content actually sweet. It starts to pull out skits of conversations sounding something like a catfish tv show phone call. 

This album is almost in two parts, we have acoustic guitars and vocals with poetry i guess, and then the album slowly transforms into a hideously long styled outro almost shoe gaze styled... It got me bored very quick and not wanting anymore of Flatsound. the concept of this whole piece is a good idea and I get where it's going, but I feel a few changes in future releases should apply from this criticism. Have something leading us on to a song, use the anticipation card. There are some nice sounds, but I didn't expect background noise after listening to 20 odd minutes of well composed and structured songs. It does eventually lead to something towards the very end, a very fuzzy vocally sounding song with water falling in the background. This is mixed in far too loudly. This is the edgy big finale to have a note from the guitar and fade out while the water still pours horribly and loudly. 

To cut a good thing short just like this album, it's like chewing a nice flavoured chewing gum then carrying on with it although the flavour is lost. It's a shame, there is a lot of potential in these songs. 

Listen here...

The Locust - Self Titled (Album)

I first heard The Locust when i picked up one of their CD's on a whim purely from the album art in a local charity shop. Flight Of The Wounded Locust, and fell in love on the drive home listening to it full blast in all its glory. I find each album has its own uniqueness to it. So as time has gone on, i have ventured deeper into their discography. Recently listening to their self titled album more often than any of their other stuff.

Lets kick start this in one phrase shall we? Short and sweet. Don't get this album confused with the self titled EP...
I cant express how varied each song is when you give it a concentrated listening to.
As always, the song titles are insanely imaginative and ridiculous. I recently see a comment on the youtube video, "these guys have too much time on their hands". Or in my opinion, not enough so the titles are a quick thought and that will do. Out of the 20 Tracks, here are my top 5 favourite purely on the track names...

1. Straight From The Horses Mouth 
2. Well I'll Be A Monkeys Uncle 
3. Dog Without A Collar (Run Over Dead Rover) 
4. Kill Roger Hedgecock 
5. An Extra Piece Of Dead Meat  

Of course, this album packs a punch with grindcore vocals and a lot more beefy riffs that kick in to half time often enough. Something you can actually bop your head to a bit. I can also happily say, the analogue styled Moog keyboard is in there offering a lot of short solo work as little bridges and intros. The drums of Gabe Serbian are amazing as usual keeping everything sounding insanely tight. The whole album flows and is finished within 16 minutes. It starts to get samey until around 7 minutes in on 'Straight From The Horses Mouth' where there is a nice guitar sound to it, sound very picky, and from here on out we get a lot of variance in vocal style and other sounds. Originally released in 1999 on a mini cd and vinyl. Im trying to get my hands on the mini CD, but it upsets me knowing there isn't many CD players that will support it, Im sure it wont work in a normal disc tray. Anyway, spare half hour? Give this a listen, no excuse. If you're a fan of Anal Cunt or Gay Kiss, I 100% advise you to give this one in particular your concentration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V9i_zEm8r8