Fluxblog Weekly #214: Seba Kaapstad, Mndsgn, J.Lamotta, YG
June 3rd, 2019
Within This Maze
Seba Kaapstad “Don’t”
“Don’t” starts off sounding so harmonically and texturally rich in its first 30 seconds that I wouldn’t have minded if it just vamped in that mode for a couple minutes or so. From there it only gets more elegant and lovely as the song glides from groovy verse to weightless chorus, and then into an extended instrumental coda led by violin. This is a remarkably ambitious piece of music, but even in spite of a string coda and some heavy lyrics about the state of the world, it mostly just sounds smooth and effortless. It’s all feel and feelings, and the odd contours of the composition only really stand out if you’re looking at it from a distance.
Buy it from Bandcamp.
June 4th, 2019
Challenge Me
Mndsgn “Sumdim”
“Sumdim” doesn’t even make it to the two minute mark. That’s kinda annoying, honestly – the groove is so strong and the vibe is so extremely pleasant that I’d like to hang out in this feeling at least another minute or two longer. It’s an interlude, and kinda like the most memorable part of a trip being some random moment along the way to a destination. But this also sounds like THE destination – there’s a strong beachy/poolside feeling to this, and I’m suckered in without being a beachy/poolside person at all. It’s hard to say why I even have this impression. There’s just something watery about the bass and some of the synth sounds burbling in the mix, and that high pitched lead keyboard part just feels like that particular light you get in Southern California.
Buy it from Bandcamp.
June 5th, 2019
Can’t Let This Vibration Go
J.Lamotta “If You Wanna”
J.Lamotta Suzume has a lovely and expressive voice, but her more compelling talent is in her skill as a composer and producer. “If You Wanna” is a remarkably graceful neo-soul number arranged and recorded with a slickness on par with what Steely Dan and Gary Katz got up to at the end of the 70s, or where D’Angelo was at around Voodoo. The record is extra dry but mixed so everything has incredible presence, particularly the drums and electric piano. The crispness of the snare hits contrast with the softness of Suzume’s voice and the swoon-y quality of the horns. It’s not just that this is a luxurious and sensual sound, but that it’s such a perfect articulation of an overwhelmingly sweet feeling. You hear this and just end up with a lovey-dovey contact high.
Buy it from Bandcamp.
June 6th, 2019
The Face Of It
YG “Hard Bottoms & White Socks”
Lil Rich’s arrangement for “Hard Bottoms & White Socks” signals a lot of vulnerability in its soft electric piano chords and slow, unhurried beat. It’s the sound of leaving yourself wide open and moving at your own pace – confident, but with no defenses up. YG follows the vibe by laying out verses that detail the complicated feelings that go into ambition and artistic confidence. He’s got a lot of ideas and resents the people who place limits on him, and he’s proud of his accomplishments but clearly doesn’t feel like he’s done enough. When he boasts, it sounds like self-affirmation more than a declaration. There’s a few subtle notes of doubt in YG’s voice, but there isn’t anything he expresses that contradicts his faith in himself. He’s just being open about the anxieties that drive this feeling.
Buy it from Amazon.