Ichika "she waits patiently" (2018)

I found ichika through a friend of mine, one who has been mentioned on this blog once before, they're the same person that introduced me to Feed Me Jack and again, she didn't disappoint with the recommendation of this Japanese Math Rock artist. This EP, because it's and EP, not a full album, is likely one of my favourite works of ichika, the gentle and clean guitar tones are used well, they help accentuate the intricate guitar work.

ichika also goes by another name, 'Nito' both of these Spotify artists are actually the same person and it shows in the feel of the music, it's spacious yet the gentle guitar tapping is tight, this goes for both accounts, Nito has more electrical and synthetic use but the resemblance is there. Why ichika felt the need to have 2 accounts I'm not sure.

The 5 song EP is something you can have on repeat for a whole day, it's relaxing and for lack of a better word, magical, angelic is another word I'd use. I have a hard time describing this record, it's intricate yet feels simple, something that is no doubt caused by the fact that all these songs were played on a clean electric guitar and polished up with some great mixing, production and a skilled player.

There are no lyrics in this EP and I don't feel like we're missing them, this record is one you'd have on in the background while you're busying yourself with other matters, it's there, it has a presence and makes itself known, but it's not demanding, it doesn't require your attention for you to be able to understand it's vibe.

8/10

 grandson ''A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1'' (2018)

Since I've been getting into the groove of writing these album reviews it's about time to tackle one of my all time favourite artists, grandson. I discovered this EP not too long after it's release and since then I must've played it hundreds of times. With startling aggression and frustration pointed at the continuous recklessness and corruption in the many systems that guide how society in America works grandson delivers some shocking and electrifying lines. This EP was grandsons first uniform experience with writing music, he's brought out multiple singles in the form of Bills, Bury Me Face Down, Kiss Bang.. Etc. 

Ditching some but not all of the powerful Alt Rock sound he's created in the singles before the release of A Modern Tragedy Vol. 1 grandson embraces some Trap music, something I haven't been super fond of, grandson does it just right though. Shill cries, wondrous attitude, dark metaphors and massive hooks combined with unique drops, grandson and his guitarist and drummer do it all. grandson is one of those artists who isn't afraid to talk and sing about all the horrifying reality going on in the world which is something I adore, with tracks like Blood // Water which talk about all the political corruption in America, or Stick Up which screams at the gun violence going on. Despicable is a track which grandson himself has described as ''a ballad of self loathing'', a daunting track with gentle guitar crashing into a huge drop later on in the song, again utilising grandsons vocal chords. 6:00 a haunting track with explosive guitar taking the front spot, heavy riffs droning on as grandson tears himself up over police brutality, a song released in 2018 mainly focused around unjust killing of civilians. And last but not least we have Overdose, a track that ties the entire EP together with grandsons ghastly vibe, powerful messages and drops like dynamite. 

This Ep is a perfect showing of what grandson is about, from singing and making music about what needs to be said to a lot of personal frustration making this sound possible, grandson really knows how to capture a vibe. The aggression is something that fascinated me a lot when listening to this the first time, it told me to be weary, that this isn't just music created to become mainstream, it's reality. All in all this first EP was a great opening to show everyone what's to come in the future.

9/10