Odd Future alumni Frank Ocean and Earl
Sweatshirt continue to sound futuristicly odd. But have they gone too far
this time? Also new tracks from Billie Eilish and …And You Will Know Us From The
Trail Of The Dead.
THE BEST:
‘Boketto’ – Lone
‘Boketto’ is a Japanese word
meaning to stare into the distance without thinking. It perfectly describes the
meditative vibe of this new track from UK producer Lone. I particularly love
the ghostly synths that sound like they may be samples of the Playstation start-up
sound. The ending with its loose glistening keys is also spellbinding.
‘False Step (Awol)’ – Pantology
The second single off of Pantology’s
new EP 2Q19, ‘False Step’ revolves around an intriguing chord
progression – the last chord seems almost out of place (almost like a ‘false
step’). Noodling bass and steady percussion carry the chord sequence along until
the whole track eventually builds to pitch-shifted climax before woozily fading
away.
‘everything I wanted’ – Billie Eilish
This track may not be everything I
wanted from a new Billie Eilish song – the production for one is a little subdued.
However, Billie’s breathy voice continues to be as gripping. I also think the lyrical
theme of the song is pretty unique, recounting a dream in which she commits
suicide and in which her brother is the only one who cares. Some will dismiss it
as emo melodrama, but I think it’s a sweet look at the bond she has for her brother
(who happens to also produce this song).
‘Don’t Look Down’ - …And You Will
Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead
It’s been a while since we heard a
new Trail of The Dead single. Tao Of The Dead was the last full album I
heard from these guys – and that was back in 2011! This new single is one of
their more straightforward indie rock tunes. I was a little underwhelmed when
it started, but the track definitely gets more interesting in the latter half
when the wall of guitars kicks in. The band have a new album X: The Godless Void And Other Stories coming out soon.
THE WORST:
‘In My Room’ – Frank Ocean
As with his last single ‘DHL’, this
new track from Frank Ocean feels pretty loose in structure. There are no hooks
and it seems to abruptly cut off at the end. Frank is also adopting that annoying
trippy vocal layering again. I had to Genius the lyrics to work out what he was
rapping about, but I needn’t have bothered because it’s all word salad anyway. The
melodic beat’s nice. But quite Frank-ly, there’s little else to hold
this track together.
‘EAST’ – Earl Sweatshirt
Fellow ex-Odd-Future member Earl
Sweatshirt is also no stranger to abstract music. Personally, I get more
enjoyment out of dissecting Earl’s poetry than the gibberish that Frank has
been serving up – there’s usually an actual message behind it all. Unfortunately,
the looping accordion sample is so distractingly horrible that it stops me from
wanting to spend too much time dissecting this song. He doesn’t even try to
develop the beat – it just loops continuously like Chinese water torture.