Tag: EP reviews

EP Review: Peace Be The Journey – Sy’ Defect

SY’ DEFECT has been a long time collaborator of rapper/producer and NEW LEASE MUSIC regular JAS, featuring on his projects including the singles ‘The Moment/The Takeover’ and his most recent EP, #DontSleepOnJAS.

The South African spitter steps to the forefront and dropped his long-awaited EP, ‘Peace Be The Journey’ last month. Produced by JAS, the set showcases a thin layer of serene soundscapes throughout, with variations of rhythmic overtones. This is all rounded off by the rolling presence of the bassline, adding that real meat to all tracks.

Introductory effort,’Hello’ punches out splashes of melodic tones, inspired from the Motherland, which gives a rich tropical house-esque vibe. Among the bed of that atmospheric soundscapes and rolling bass line, the rhythmic tones pick up the pace and switches up to a more blissfully satisfying sound, as featured in ‘Floating Waters (ft. Palesa Blossom) and ‘Peace Be The Journey’.

As for SY’ DEFECT‘s delivery, well he was at complete ease, providing that certain swing to his usual mellow flow which, at times, can pick up at great speed, adding those fire moments in the EP.

Guys, I truly recommend checking out SY’ DEFECT‘s ‘Peace Be The Journey’ – like digging into a cake, it gets sweeter with each sample.

 Must Listens: This Life, Peace Be The Journey, Run Home

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EP Review: Damaged Vol.2 – Bülow

I’ve been following BÜLOW since her debut ‘This Is Not A Song’ and I take my hat off to this newcomer for injecting some spunk into pop music, that’s sometimes jarringly melancholic. After teasing us with follow ups, such as ‘Lines’ and ‘Sad and Bored’, the singer/songwriter unleashed her EP ‘Damaged Vol.2.’

‘Sad and Bored’ set the scene for the three-track set, with its downtrodden-ish thump which somehow sounds like a slow down version of Toni Basil’s 80’s hit, ‘Hey Mickey’.

‘Honor Roll’ offers up a real soulfulness to her usual downtempo signature, something I haven’t noticed in her previous releases (unless I’m tone-deaf!). That oomph of soul continues which slightly pick up speed and gives that extra spice in concluding effort, ‘You and Jennifer’, before abruptly signing off.

BÜLOW has definitely surpass her previous offerings with this EP and from this point, it can only get better. However, I do feel a little cheated as ‘Damaged Vol.2’ is way too short…NOT FAIR!!!

Check her out below:

Must Listen: You and Jennifer

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EP Review: The MissTape – DeanKelly

I don’t usually don’t do reviews on Mondays, but I had to drop this set entitled ‘The MissTape’, coming all the way from Nigeria through newcomer, DEANKELLY.

In a nutshell, ‘The MissTape’ is a love note where the singer/songwriter and producer declare his love for a special lady he had an eye on for a while, desperately hoping that she responds favourably to his declaration.

From the get-go, the EP presents infectious and vivacious hooks, that’s inspired by his Nigerian heritage, with a subtle backdrop which (to me) gives off a R&B pop vibe, taking influence from his idol, Chris Brown.

DEANKELLY strategically uses a smooth and seductive rhythms of the Motherland to achieve   that across the broad appeal.

Check out the EP and my songs recommendations below:

Must Listen: Parole, MonaLisa, Gbam!

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EP Review: Brown Eyed Soul Vol.1 – Cherri V

Since the release of single ‘Leave Me Be’ last year, I was eagerly waiting for CHERRI V to drop her EP, ‘Brown Eyed Soul Vol 1’…

…And finally it’s here! As featured in the aforementioned single, the eight-track set boasts the presence of reggae/dub heavy(ish) bass with lucid flow of modern R&B, before switching up to a 90s-inspired slow jam with a slight lick of gospel, through ‘Snapchat Mistress’.

The collection then filters to a faultless piano-led performance through, ‘Situationship’ where you experience and undoubtedly appreciate the true beauty and purity of this London songbird’s well-poised vocals.

Featuring guest vocalists, Sincerely Wilson – who duets with CHERRI V in ‘Situationship’ – and the legendary singer Terri Walker, ‘Brown Eyed Soul Vol 1’ is definitely worth the lengthy wait. Not the one to pass up; check it out below…

Must Listens: (it was REALLY hard to decide) Leave Me Be, Situationship, Swimming

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EP Review: Abyssopelagic – Oloff

When Oloff Johnson – or simply known as OLOFF– slipped me his EP ‘Abyssopelagic’ earlier last month, he mentioned that the latest body of work was a mixture of genres – from straight up hip-hop to the ambient and the experimental. Boy, he’s definitely not wrong there.

As the mini set kicks off with an upbeat, 808 state inspired number, ‘Doing It Stealthy’ – featured on NEW LEASE MUSIC last month – it suddenly flips, going through floaty/spaced out soundscapes which, no doubt, puts you in a hypnotic state within seconds. The young wordsmith’s contrasting wayward flow punches through the atmospheric arrangements, adding a unique vibrancy.

I have to say ‘Abyssopelagic’ EP is an acquired taste. Test it out below:

Must Listens: Doing It Stealthy, Fucking Wet

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