ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE

BROCKHAMPTON

Even though it has only been 4 years since the SATURATION trilogy, today's BROCKHAMPTON seems like a very different group. The production that the group worked with on those records was colourful, quirky, and explored so much musical terrain. The production on the past few BROCKHAMPTON records by comparison I find are much darker in tone, and not as extravagant. They don't possess that same ear-worm quality that many tracks off SATURATION had. Not every instrumental here is a dud though. The opening track BUZZCUT has a very similar vibe to another one of my favourite BROCKHAMPTON tracks, J'OUVERT, with it's warped siren and deep bass. The following track, CHAIN ON, is much smoother and has a pretty catchy loop. THE LIGHT has some really nice distorted guitar and organ that provides a very fitting backdrop for Joba and Kevin's very personal verses.

While on the subject, ROADRUNNER sadly doesn't feature as many memorable verses as I would have hoped for. However, each member does have a shining moment. Kevin Abstract, Don McLennon, and Joba pretty much kill it every time they are featured. Joba's verses on THE LIGHT parts one and two, are especially gripping as he speaks on his father's suicide and his fears that his mental health may lead him to a similar fate. I would have liked to have heard more from Merlyn Wood, but he does have a great verse on the posse cut WINDOW. This record also sees wonderful guest verses from the likes of Danny Brown and JPEGMAFIA on the first two tracks. Overall this record is not too bad. I just wished BROCKHAMPTON was a little more spontaneous and took more risks, especially with the production.