2. Angelica Garcia - Echo Electrico
Overall impressions of this album, of the nominees, so far this one has the best production. All in Spanish, this artist reproduces Latin American Folk, and RVA Mag's Drew Necci writes: "just knowing that Garcia created these towering cathedrals of melodic sound solely by layering her own vocals is enough to render the whole thing rather fascinating." At times, the music sounds a little Middle-Eastern to me, especially on the first couple tracks, because there are so many sharp notes and unfamiliar layers of rhythm. I used Google translate on the track titles, just to get a small idea of the meaning of this album. (Once I tried watching Apocalypto without subtitles first and when I watched it a second time with dialogue I could understand, let's just say I was off on a completely inaccurate tangent without them, so take my review of the following tracks with a grain of salt.) Track 01, Malaguena, is a dance similar to the tango. I wouldn't say the intro is joyful -- overall it's a dark album, but also simple and truthful. That is my impression. The music is strong in descent and then a little tragic and cold when it wakes up? But it's over all really beautiful. Track 02, Macorina, means "blessed," and often is a girl's name. I am sure I am missing a lot of meaning, but the back-and-forth and heavy downbeats you might think of with a tango dance kind of carry on in this song, and I get the feeling the speaker is searching for something. Track 03, Llorona, refers to a crying person, like a mourner or a weeping lady. Further down this camina, buscando, Garcia emotes sadness and mourning, sympathy, and then a chorus of harsher, more caustic bitter voices. Track 04, Cama de Piedra (The Stone Bed,) has an intro that feels like a Bon Iver song. This, and the next, final track, are my favorite for her vocals because the Bon Iver-like notes serve as a simple background rhythm, no longer tango-esque, and her singing hovers over it in the most gentle and simple song. It feels like waking up, like the very-very end of Winter. Track 05, Paloma Negra (Black Pidgeon,) kind of stays in the cold transition, and that's where this album leaves off. I like it a lot and would want to hear what comes next from this California- native artist. 3. Ant the Symbol - Ant Hasn't Heard of You, Either Here's a RVA Brand hip hop mixtape release. Ant the Symbol features other artists and covers the bases - discussing his musical peers and his respect for the work they do, his attitude about work, civil rights for low-income people, and other such stuff. This rapper has some awesome flow! Some of the songs are infections and empowering! In all, it feels like an intro to the artist's work and life, so if you hadn't heard, Ant Hasn't Heard of You, Either. This album does what it says it should, and by picking up in strength, with each track, it elevates the game. I like the intro beat (Yo!) With an unassuming, steady beat that makes me think of the humble work of ants, this album kicks off with a good humor. Names, track 2, rolls off a slew of names in the rap industry. Ant takes an edgier rhythm and challenges everyone to elevate game which is of more value than fame. I think this song is pretty tasteful, stays focused on the music industry, and is catchy! Then, the Usual Suspects (track 3) gets a little loose, and makes some boasts, but paints a cool setting. The artist imagines he is on a march to the grave, and still talks about working hard and not letting things hold you back from your goals. Track 4, Gross, samples from Adam Sandler's Billy Madison, and sounds like a Snoop song. The background has the most mixtapey feel -- it really sounds like someone is playing a mix-tape track in the background, like it's from the vault. Loves it! 5 That's Him is a song that's "Citin' the brawl." The speaker addresses his art when it's designed for conflict. Or even describes music when it's needed to record conflict. The artist kind of seizes his role and identity. 7 Slides -- I think this is one of my faves for all the images - of childhood "slides" are images, and being lost in love- the boy and girl aren't catching eachother's slides. 8 Gone Astray is kind of mixing in the R&B - "Gotta change the bass on this love sh**." Between this and the last song, we are getting the blurry undefined emotion where the speaker is talking about himself and his love. When things go wrong, when you can't tell who is gone astray or what, I think the recipe is for danger. So I think the title for this piece is well-chosen. So track 9, Protect Your Peace, elects to make a turn, focusing on what makes this artist's identity unique. But it's not an easy road. I really enjoy it, though. These two songs in a row show a transition for the artist. 10 - end And I Wake Up - look for more polished song style with musical refrains and less of an in-your-face rap, the words blend into the music a little more. Overall- a really cool album, and I'm so glad I got to review it for this prize! 4. HYPERBEAM by Big Fundamental Whether their bandname refers to the fundamental truths, or the founding principles of the universe or just the fact that this group is big on the fundamentals of music? I'm not sure. The singer does refer, on track 04, World's Largest Fiddle, that something sounding flat, still "sounds right for me." I took this to be in reference to the singing voice, which is flat but still hangs in key for most of these songs, and dramatically varies in intensity. I think this group probably has a great stage presence. The drama is there. Definitely check out these long, hazy rock songs that off the bat, sound like the Cure maybe? And get in your face. To me, this is melody-driven music and while it has the punk feel of disregard for the melody, the singer says that might not necessarily be a correct impression! Track 01, Haze, features amazing textured rhythm and loose, low bass, a flair for the dramatic in the "break the rules to make the rules," tuneless delivery of lyrics that challenge the boundary between meaning and nonsense. Track 04, World's Largest Fiddle delves into an alt folk sound with sparse and piercing melody, but weaves back and forth between that style and the rushing percussion and abandon of alt rock. Tempo picks up at the end of this song. Track 05, Cuttin' Slack. This song builds the reverb right in and makes me feel like I just had my ears dashed at a concert even though my volume is not all the way up! "Not holding onto days that pass," this song looks into the art of letting go and with the rushing, atmospheric backdrop, it's hard not to be persuaded and carried away by the music. Track 06, Daunted "Sittin' in the sun, drinkin' the shine" This slower number has lots of imagery and repetition and a melody that is only sometimes present. Track 07, Chills - Another melodic riff intro and a message to just do good and keep doin' it." If that's the big fundamental of this album, I'll buy it! I can't tell, but as I make my way through the list of nominees for the Newlin Music Prize, I'm decided: the competition is of a stellar class! This is yet another well-mastered album.
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AuthorWe are Kieran and Michelle, two 32-year-old William & Mary grads living in Virginia. Archives
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