The continuation of my monthly series, discussing the albums that struck a chord with me throughout March. March has given us surprise releases, amazing debuts, and has kicked the musical year into overdrive.
Dave – Psychodrama
I first came across Dave (or Santan Dave as he was known at the time) in 2016, on his collaborative single Thiago Silva, with fellow English MC AJ Tracey. A pure Grime banger, it demonstrated Dave’s lyrical and technical ability, and put him on a trailblazing route. Steadily building his repertoire, Dave moved from Grime to Hip Hop, his single Wanna Know seeing Drake feature on the remix. In 2018, Dave was launched into the stratosphere, scoring a gold record and #1 single with Funky Friday, featuring Fredo. Following on from this monumental achievement, Dave has released this perfectly-crafted debut album, one that stand as a testament to his natural ability, and to the work he has done since 2016.
This album is raw, unashamed, and brutally honest. Opening with Psycho, Dave immediately puts his cards on the table, detailing his struggles with mental health, and setting the tone for the rest of the album. On Black, Dave pulls no punches when discussing racism and inequality. There is not one track on this record that Dave does not give his all, pouring his heart out, letting his vulnerability show just as much as his confidence and bravado. On Lesley, Dave delivers an 11 minute, heart-wrenching ballad, discussing domestic abuse and collapsing relationships.
This album debuted at #1 on the British charts, and it is fully deserved. Dave is destined for great things. At only 20 years old, it will be amazing to watch him develop as an artist, and I look forward to hear what else he has to offer.
Solange – When I Get Home
The Knowles family seem to have a penchant for releasing surprise albums. Much like Beyoncé’s self-titled released in 2013, this album caught the musical world off-guard, and delighted fans and critics alike.
The album pulls you instantly into a hazy bliss, Thing I Imagined whirls around with dreamy piano and synths. As the track list progresses, it is beefed out by interludes that keep a constant flow of sound, never letting your focus drop from the album for even a second. This reminded me particularly of Blood Orange’s 2018 record, Negro Swan, and the influence of that album can definitely been heard across this project. The rappers who feature on this album surprised me, but they work fantastically. Never did I think I would hear fellow Houston star Playboi Carti on an album with one of the Knowles sisters, and while his appearance on Alameda was unexpected, his unique cadence is a great addition to the track. Another surprise was another Southern music star, Gucci Mane. When you boil My Skin My Logo down, this track is really just Solange and Gucci hyping each other up, almost like they warming up for a freestyle session. On paper (especially if you read the lyrics) the songs seem quite jarring, but they fall into the fold of the album seamlessly. We hear Solange in a relaxed state, and through that, she delivers a groovy, infectious collection of tracks.
On Binz, with help from The-Dream and Panda Bear of Animal Collective, Solange adopts the attitude and cadence Gucci and Carti would be known for on their tracks. She sings about blunts, designer brands, and flashy cars. She makes a point that the wealth she has earned has been through her hard work and grind has, and hasn’t arrived late on “CP Time”.
When this album ends, you will instantly want to replay it. Solange is relaxed and confident, and that translates to a chilled-out and smooth album, with her conscious style remaining present.
Karen O & Danger Mouse – Lux Prima
When accomplished musicians join forces to release a collaborative album, the results can be extremely polarising. You may end up with an album like Kanye and Jay Z’s Watch the Throne, a monumental album that spawned singles which dominated the charts. Conversely, you may get a project like Lulu, the joint effort of Metallica and Lou Reed. Perhaps the less we say about the album the better. With Lux Prima, Karen O and Danger Mouse hurdle well over the potholes that line the road of the collaborative project, creating a dream-like sonic landscape.
The eponymous opening track, a 9 minute journey, builds the foundations on which the rest of the album lay. As the track-list marches on, it feels as though you have joined in on a journey. From the sullen, to the commandeering, Karen O’s voice and lyrics are in perfect tandem with Danger Mouse’s production. As the album comes to a close, we’re treated to two fuzzy and distorted tracks, Reveries and Nox Lumina. Downbeat, with a droning edge, they close the album out in a way that leaves you feeling like you are finally coming down from the heights you were just brought to.
This is is how you make a collaborative album, and I genuinely hope we hear more from this duo in the future.
Flume – Hi This Is Flume
Australian producer Flume has returned with his first project since 2017, and he has made said return with a wall of sonic delight.
Intense, huge, and booming songs are Flume’s bread and butter, and this project is full of them, highly polished and aurally overwhelming at times. Taking a track from one of my favourite albums of last year, with the help of Eprom, Flume remixes SOPHIE’s Is It Cold In The Water?. The track builds to crescendo, that drops into a blitz of noise, Flume’s trademark sound putting a new edge on an already amazing track. After previously working with Vince Staples, Flume delves into the Hip Hop world again, recruiting JPEGMAFIA for the track How to Build a Relationship; the spoken word outro giving an insight into how fun it sounded for both of them to make the song. On High Beams, Slowthai delivers his gritty bars over a similarly gritty beat.
I’ve always enjoyed Flume’s work, but this album has really solidified as a fan. Fresh tracks, with features of some of the best up-and-coming rappers right now, as well as the remixes, means this album has something for everyone.
Incoherent Music Rants 