Crest

Bladee & Ecco2k

Prior to one week ago, I had largely been unfamiliar with the Sad Boy or Drain Gang movements. These two collectives are responsible for pioneering and advancing the sound of cloud rap, a genre characterized by its spacious, and formless production, bleak lyrics, and the drab, mumbled, and lightly tuned vocal performances. It didn't really seem like the kind of thing that would appeal to me, thus, we never crossed paths. That is until I decided to take a chance on the new collaborative record from Drain Gang members Bladee and Ecco2k. It was only nine tracks and thirty-one minutes in length; the type of project that seemed like it didn't require too much commitment. What ended up happening was Crest breaking my expectations. I was surprised to hear production that was vaguely magical, enchanting, and quite melodic. There was lots of interesting sounds and samples layered in that always seemed to grab my ear. The beats, which I expected to be minimal and flabby, were actually pretty peppy; punchy, but not aggressive so that it does not distract from all the harmonious melodic content that is placed over top. This record genuinely made me feel good, and I proceeded to listen to it every day for the following week, partially just to make sure that my mind wasn't playing tricks and that I did in fact enjoy the record.

Even the vocals didn't bother me all that much. Yes, they are not particularly strong, and have many of the characteristics I previously mentioned. However, I found that they did a really good job of blending into the vibe of the track; not quite enhancing, but not distracting either. Occasionally, there are a few stumbles where the vocal pacing is a little awkward, or the vocal melody feels a little out of tune, but this happens to be the exception more than it is the rule. On top of that, I would say these two have great vocal chemistry. Bladee's voice has a little more body and he tends to focus more on rhythmic delivery than his melody. Ecco2k is almost the complete opposite with his voice coming through almost as a whisper. I find he is a little more adventurous and risk-taking with his performances, dancing all over his range, creating memorable moments in the process. Even with the heavy effects applied to their voices, and a similar vibe in their deliveries, the unique features of each performer still shine through.

Everything I've relayed so far I think does a really good job of describing just about every track on this project without going into the specific details, but I have to, at the very least, mention the track 5 Star Crest (4 Vattenrum). At first I was very skeptical, after all, it is a nine minute cloud rap tune. How could it possibly hold my attention for that long? Well, this track isn't so much a song as it is a series of vignettes, five of them as it turns out. It's an absolute journey that transitions abruptly between moments of heavenly ambiance, quaint chiptune, bouncy sad boy club, and surprisingly catchy, shimmering 80s post-punk and ethereal wave. This track takes all the sounds and flavours you will hear on this record, packs them all together into one song, and does it better, catchier, and with more emotional potency than any of the other tracks.

What a pleasant surprise. I came into this project not expecting to like this very much and Crest completely changed my perspective of the whole Drain Gang movement. I don't feel drained. I don't feel down. Instead, I feel rejuvenated, like I sat out in the sun and had the most delightful daydream. I'm not sure if this has been their brand all along or if this is some sort of drastic redefinition of their sound, but either way, I am on board. The record still has its faults for sure like the vocal performances, or perhaps a lack of memorability on an individual track level. What I can say for sure though, is that the record is quite cohesive and listening to it as a complete body of work is a memorable and rewarding experience.