Sometimes you find a man who seems to have a lock on the creative aspect more than most. Every few decades, you find a handful of artists that just have that ‘IT’ factor. Whether it be in their power, their lyricism, or their originality. What happens when you run across a man who has all three? That right there is called a prodigy, and I feel this man is that.
A man who has used the underground landscape to create music that is on a higher plane than most, a man who wants his art to penetrate the soul of the audience, and with that in mind, it’s my pleasure to discuss easily one of the most mind-blowing albums of the year!
This is the brand-new and fifth LP by MC -A.R.T, as he has production from the likes of
-Nat
-Clubs The Art Dealer
-odellskies
-BrosZZ
-Wavology
-Ian James
-Dariush
-Yoshitomi Kaito, with executive production from -A.R.T, and I need you to understand that this is easily one of the more creative ventures we’ve heard, period!
If we discuss the production side of things first. We come across a score that feels beyond human comprehension. This album feels like the sonic equivalent of a calm river with a variety of exotic creatures speaking around it. From the beautiful sounds of crickets to the distant howling of wolves.
These instrumentals are the type to put your mind, body, and soul at ease. It’s like a more powerful evolution of Lo-Fi beats with elements of soul, jazz, and ambient signatures that force your body into a state of harmony that you never knew you could feel in this day and age.
Each producer works so well with the other. To have this many names working on one project and it sound this cohesive? Is rare. It sounds like it was done by one man, and that’s why this music is so fucking special because it literally BREATHS life into the album in such a way that you feel like you’re listening to an experience rather than an album!
As soon as I hit play, I felt at ease. The album itself actually pre-describes the feelings of this album! It’s -Serene -The Path Of The Wind -Blossom and -SOAR(ing). I found myself fading away into a realm of happiness and depths of joy I didn’t know I could access in my current life, and this is an atmosphere and experience I want EVERY SINGLE PERSON IN THE WORLD to feel!
When we discuss the MC work, it feels almost wrong to try to say, but he somehow does an even stronger performance than the production! This man is the definition of an ART(ist); he’s the one who brings the concepts and the important narratives to the music and makes this a story told rather than just a regular album!
On this one, we hear the literal living and breathing incarnation of ART. This man uses what seems to be the theme of the mindset of samurai to bring forth an album that is every bit influenced and ingrained in spirituality, the meaning of life, and the essence of existence.
He does this with lots of pop culture puns, which I loved. A lot of anime puns with one obvious reference in the song title -Hidden Leaf Village, but more added throughout the album!
On this album, he sounds like he’s become one with the music. As if he’s underground’s Eddie Brock, and the production is his Venom! Or if we are going with anime context, he’s Yuta, and the anime is his Rika! Either way, it’s fucking gorgeous to listen to.
This man has one of the most compelling performances I’ve heard in a minute! He’s lyrically superior. He’s fluent in his flow, he’s sharp on the penmanship, and his charisma is naturally high! He knows he’s the man on this beat, and he’s doing everything to show it!
He showcases his graceful yet powerful verses that pierce your soul and seep in until you’re fully engulfed into the ambiance of the record! One thing I also loved about this album was the use of various samurai sounds and voice snippets! It gives a whole new level of immersive storytelling to the whole record that I loved!
This should be a no-brainer. I’m asking everyone who checks my reviews out to peep this album out ASAP! It will honestly change your life as it has now mine!
https://theartis.bandcamp.com/album/path-of-the-wind
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