Tag: 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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Album Review: Entwined – Elias

From the moment you hit the play button on ELIAS‘ debut album ‘Entwined’, you’ll get immediately drawn to the Swedish singer’s robustly soulful vocals with the prominently airy and almost electronic soundscapes serving as a perfect backdrop.

The collection was further enhanced, with the backing of soulful gospel choirs, through, ‘Hope’ which provides an almost three-dimensional feel to the song. ‘Tearing Down the Walls’ briefly interrupts the soothing tone of the album and offers up a late eighties/early nineties-inspired  techno/electronica combo which is slightly reminiscent of Naughty Boy’s hit ‘Runnin (Lose It All)’.

A stunning piano-led piece concludes the album with ‘The Entwined’, showcasing compelling harmonies that weaves elegantly through the keys and – if you’re not made of stone – touches your soul and melts the heart.

ELIAS’ first offering puts him in very good standing as the one-to-watch in the alternative pop music scene – not just in his native Sweden – but across the globe.

Look forward to his future stuff…have a listen to his body of work below:

Must Listens: Focus, Hope, No Deeper We Can Fall, Gold, The Entwined 

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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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Album Review: Konfidence – Kit Rice

Previously featured tracks, ‘Just A Kiss’ and ‘Always Been This Way’ have set a curious tone for KIT RICE‘s brand new album entitled ‘Konfidence’, released on Monday (25th June).

I was very privileged to be invited to Kit’s album release launch party on Monday at London’s  229 The Venue Club and I gotta say this newcomer’s – along with the backing singers – well-poised vocals has compelled me even more to the eight-track collection.

‘Konfidence’ certainly matched the full-on confidence of the live performances I witnessed, by kicking off with a boisterous sound of the UKG scene, before offering up more club filling makeovers of the original R&B/soulful offerings, ‘Always Been This Way’ and ‘Just A Kiss’, with the help of producers Operator S and DJIMON.

The combination of that UKG vibes and smooth R&B offers the perfect balance throughout the album, topped off by the 2017 Voice contestant’s soulful vocal which effortlessly flows between the two genres.

With this pretty neat set, KIT RICE firmly holds onto the title as one of the most exciting and promising artists that the UK has seen in a very long time…

Make sure you check him out below:

Must Listens: Just A Kiss, Always Been This Way (original versions)

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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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