Darian Chen debuts with the soundtrack to a summer corrupted by the delirium of being stuck indoors. “EP2020” doesn’t sound like a record informed by global lockdown, but it carries with it a sense of bedroom loneliness spurred on by crucial moments slipping out of reach. These three songs are a digitised introduction to Chen’s … Continue reading 2020 REVIEWS: DARIAN CHEN – EP2020
It’s been a good few years now since we’ve heard a vocally-led project from New Jersey producer Killer Kane (his Lost in Translation EP is almost three years old at this point) and the short but incredibly sweet Open Casket is all the more appreciated for it. My anticipations for this tape were at an … Continue reading 2020 REVIEWS: KILLER KANE – OPEN CASKET
Rochester, New York music/art collective Outfit 14A have appeared on the blog before, but we thought we’d check in with them again now that they’ve refocused their promotional efforts into a new wave of releases. Great to have you guys on the blog again! We thoroughly enjoyed February’s Wide Awake EP and have been eagerly … Continue reading 2020 INTERVIEWS: OUTFIT 14A
TOWERS’ craft a sublime album that grieves in the immediacy of unknown futures. Suspended in midair the city below begins to fall away. It’s unclear what exactly the town used to be – the blocks of apartments signify a residential urban centre, but there are no people, no windows, no paint on the walls. There’s … Continue reading 2020 REVIEWS: TOWERS – TOWERS
“All is Vanity” rips and tears at deeply held emotions and frantically hides the wounds created. “It’s all because of you I’ve been so cold, I’m so sick of being overlooked, I’ve had enough” wails Texas singer-producer Sleye on “Oxygen”. The song – a standout from the new album, “All is Vanity” – is an … Continue reading 2020 REVIEWS: SLEYE – ALL IS VANITY
A slow-burning pop-trap tune, ‘Let You Down’ is the latest collaboration between Dreamstar members Yxng E and FXLLEN. Having recently explored the realms of dancehall in his music, Yxng E has offered up something closer to the style found on his first project The Takeover with his latest cut. FXLLEN’s performance on the track comes … Continue reading 2020 SINGLE REVIEWS: YXNG E & FXLLEN – LET YOU DOWN
The debut EP from a hive mind of clipping voices is audaciously massive, defined by a total disregard for the fidelity of their signals. Low volume is advised. Fax Gang have discovered the auditory equivalent of sandpaper on their project “FxG3000”. Nearly every second of the project is a concentrated beam, purposefully scarred by downsampling … Continue reading 2020 REVIEWS: FAX GANG – FXG3000
“Icaro” is competent, classic, hip hop; duo NV and Cise Greeny choose a battle-hardened niche and sew themselves into it. It takes a few minutes – around six and a half – for Cise Greeny and NV’s new project “Icaro” to get moving. Though it embraces the well tested aesthetic of East Coast hip hop, … Continue reading 2020 REVIEWS: NV & CISE GREENY – ICARO
Two of The Super 6 Club’s finest, F4t Txne and Zepeda, unite on an enticing six track collection. Boasting bright, summery production on every one of its songs, SpringCleaning is an essential listen for any rap fan feeling the quarantine blues. Txne’s rapping is ludicrously smooth, he glides so effortlessly over these beats that I … Continue reading 2020 REVIEWS: F4T TXNE – SPRINGCLEANING
Note: This article was written and published before a series of allegations against Yungster Jack came to light. Please know that 108MICS and its staff do not support, condone, or accept assault or harassment of any kind, nor the perpetrators thereof. The eclectic pair again disguise pop music’s natural evolution under increasingly redundant glitching. “Touch … Continue reading 2020 SINGLE REVIEWS: YUNGSTER JACK & DAVID SHAWTY – GREEN
