Dossier 001: Unexplained

I can count on my one hand the beat tapes that have blown me away. It’s a style of music I enjoy in certain situations but few have left a lasting impression on me. This is one of those times, a surreal & haunting listening experience that will leave a profound impact on the listener. I present to you

(Dossier 0001) This is the brand new beat tape by Producer -ExPatJPN and he presents us with 8 tracks that feel less like ‘songs’ and more like an atmospheric indulgence that you won’t find anywhere else! Let me explain!

Immediately what I love about this album is that it doesn’t hold your hand nor should it. It reminds me of the first album of the current trilogy ‘Conductor, We Have A Problem’ by Conductor Williams. It has the same beautiful fusion of eerie tones, sinister aesthetics and head rattling hip hop that not many can get right in blending and yet -Ex makes it look easy!
From that opening track -THE OTHER SIDE which starts off with that chilling voice snippet which evolves into a combination of thick bass strings,darkly mesmerising drum patterns, delicate piano keys and some disturbingly looming Jazz horns! I also love how running throughout we get a variety of spoken word passages to add to the tension!

The second track in -DA HELL IZ DAT has this simple yet gritty sonic design that I fell in love instantly! Firstly the construction of it, you’ve got those raw and grainy plucked bass, heavy and robust drum beats that make you feel like your going insane! In the background is what sounds like echoing water dripping, those theatrically thrilling horns and dangerous keys that sound absolutely murderous!
There’s also more (as is the running theme) to have spoken word snippets added to the instrumentals!

On the song -SOMETHIN’ GOIN ON! We get this absolutely batshit trippy instrumental that I could listen to for hours! It feels like a real life weed trip! You’ve got those tweaking/distorted chords that align themselves to some hypnotic drum rhythms and savage bass lines!
Of course more snippets added to fuel the cerebral texture of the tracks and it adds the perfect level of thrills!
I will say most the talking points revolve either extraterrestrials or haunted houses! I’d say mostly UFO/Aliens but there are some that sound like some ‘Amityville’ type dialogue!

Track 6 -JUSTA FRIENDA MINE made me laugh a bit due to the nature of the topic. Basing the track around a guy trying to explain that this girl is ‘just a friend of mine’ to his missus as we hear that looped over this extra hypnotic sound with some more tweaked chord progressions, methodically charged drums, thick bass and these odd unusual chords in the background that sound extraterrestrial in nature also! As if aliens are banging some 4th dimension instruments in the background!

Interestingly enough I’d say the album goes out on a rather mellow term (all things considered) with this Jazz influenced instrumental with some atmospheric horns looped around the track, light and sticky keys, droning drums with some traditional bass!
I wouldn’t exactly call it anti climatic because it still does have a hint of darkness and mystery to it but not in the same levels as the other tracks on the list! More of a fleeting experience!

This is definitely not an album I could survive at night time. I’m way too bitch made for that! But if your a braver man then me then sit back, use your best quality headphones, your poison of choice and experience what I guarantee will be your new favourite beat tape!