Category: Album – 11 tracks, runtime – 36 min
Genre: Alternative Rap
Release Date: 18.October.2024
Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ – 8.7/10
This project’s of the visual-driven, conceptual variety. And this kind of work risks being self-absorbed & stuffed with cringey efforts at a semblance of depth. Thank goodness that possibility was averted here.
Straight out from the opener “rogue” ft Furaha, there’s an existential heaviness that ironically evokes a layered beauty. Scattered jolty synth melodies ring across the tune’s less than 2 minute duration, accented by dragged vocals lazing on about trying to catch a departing “train”. There’s urgency & exhaustion in equal measure.
Variations of that same template play out on the next three tracks; whether on “duty free” which launches out with trippy guitars & is soon buoyed by agile beats and lyrical allusions to regret, or on “Violet Jones” which is slower & more sensual but just as potent. “angel tears” is slightly more angsty but in the same mold overall, farming life’s heaviness as a condition adjacent to love/yearning for his girl.
Our pick for the album’s standout is a tie between the stripped-down quirkily titled “c’est what c’est” & the second last track “nirvana” ft Mwiza & thedicekid. The latter bears some sonic extravagances hearkening back to a 90’s “showy” synth pop sound (especially at the start). Mwiza’s harmonies are delightfully indulgent & thedicekid’s dynamic flow elevates the piece itself & the project’s tail end by extension.
Without getting pedantic about it, this is a concept album by many metrics. Most importantly by the artist’s prior communication, but also going by recurring themes & vocally distinct character differentiations, lyrical convergences, & overt indications like coded announcements of follow-ups within preceding tracks. It’s a feat that it doesn’t seem patched up or pretentious. There are small pockets of time when there’s an overdrawn sameness in sound. But luckily, it doesn’t stretch out too long as to be artistically detrimental. In any case, on zooming out, it’s a pleasant spectrum of rich sounds & varying approaches. We knew we liked Manzi, but we weren’t this familiar with his game to this level. Glad to see how bold he is, something we value more than merely “good” safe artistry. Fun ride!
