Scatabrainz Its So Beautiful Out Here EP Preview
Hip hop has wiiiiiiide roots. It also has wide branches. The endless corners of the musical globe that hip hop culture has navigated reaching for that golden sunlight, are quite simply immeasurable. You only need look at how brave independent labels are becoming with their repertoire to start to get an idea of just how diverse the tree has grown. Sitting comfortably and proud as one of the main structural branches is 'trip hop'. An atmospheric and often instrumental leaf of the hip hop family tree, trip hop fills the void between the raw energy that the culture encapsulates, and the soft emotion it can portray. This release is one of the finest examples I have heard in many many years.
Released on Glasgow's very own Southside Deluxe label, the EP begins like a massage from the softest fingertips on the ear drums. Scatabrainz manages to do something very astute here. Taking each individual sound and somehow morphing it like putty to get that sluggish push and pull, shows the hours that went in to perfecting it. Each individual moment has been accounted for. The result is that the EP as a whole takes you on a fluid journey through time and space, not forgetting to stop at some quaint and cosy destinations along the way. With enough time at each to see all the important sights and stop off at the giftshop, these songs start to become an adventure.
As easy on the ears as a soft pillow after a hard day of manual labour, the EP shows what it claims in the title. It IS so beautiful out here, and I only wish I could take pictures. That isn't to say that this EP doesn't pack a punch. The bass here has you nodding your head within the first few bars, and keeps that swing throughout. Some cleverly placed vocal samples add to the atmosphere, that once again get the Scatabrainz treatment to become melodical sounds in their own right. The changes he creates are as soft as warm sand between your toes on a deserted, twighlight beach. With cooling cocktail in hand, and nothing to do but watch the sun sink below the horizon. Each track feels like it has a story to tell, and it does so like the words of a loving parent at bedtime, but as a collection of tracks these truly become one epic journey. An experience that is as relaxing and pleasant, as it is exciting.
Considering we're still hibernating while the winter winds slowly blow passed us, I don't mind telling you that I think I have found my default chill-out soundtrack of summer 2015. I'm already looking forward to it blessing the rays and complimenting the haze. Go get yourself a copy before you have to ask your mate what that wicked EP is playing at the BBQ this year.
Invokal - Verbalist Journalist
Click the official artwork for Scatabrainz Its So Beautiful Out Here EP below to visit his bandcamp page and past releases, keep an eye out for the EP's release there as well!
Make sure to head over to Southside Deluxe's bandcamp to checkout a boat load of other release by clicking Here
