Perry Porter & ICBM - Paper Moon (2012)
so we have another "pay what you want" album. and a hip-hop one at that, so i'm glad to say that i was pleasantly surprised to find that this was a full-fledged album - clearly not a mixtape. and what's even more interesting here, is the fact that perry porter seems to have captured the sound of the mainstream party-anthems with his delivery, despite not really having a strong position in the mainstream (though it's not a big deal).
we start the album with what seems to be, at first, an aggressive track that is somewhat unapproachable. really, this track is their sort of opening anthem, and it doesn't fail at that. and with this we also learn another thing - their sample selection is fantastic. french producer ICBM clearly aimed for a specific sound on this. we move on to tracks 2 and three, which combined make one very pleasing atmosphere, and show an almost jay-zian attitude to MCing. and immediately with track 4, one can see what type of music they are trying to invigorate here. aptly named, "luci(d) dreams" paints a picture to accompany the title with an array of reeverb laden keys and soft crash cymbals shrouded in more reeverb.
the production is a highpoint of its own, but also a trough. sometimes the compression breaks through the vocals and distracts, and sometimes it's just back enough to feel underwhelming; but beyond that, it's pleasing enough.
it's not hard to see what they are trying to see here - it's a party album - but in multiple senses - i.e. it never falls short of "clever", and it never crosses the line into "dumb". simple, naive, but fun ambitions are laid out like grocery lists while 90s happyRNB harmonies take over. it digs into the mentality of a younger mind (as intended) and how easy it is to just fucking chill out. obviously, not seriously. oh but they totally mean it. if it's what you are looking for, you'll be pleasantly surprised to find a good and articulate alternative to other party songs. otherwise, it's still a good listen.
great selection. really enjoyed this. I have a selection you might want to feature in your blog sometime.
free download at: www.ludwigcanyouhearme.com
The story of Cidida x Eibol begins in the summer of 2006 while interning at Chung King, the pair squatted in an unused loft on the studio’s 11th floor. Every night after sessions they would write, record, and mix songs, which would begin the process that would later drive “Ludwig, Can You Hear Me?” Eibol had just wrapped up a nationwide tour for his self-written, self-produced release “Karma Kingdom” and was eager to get back into the studio, where he became an in-house engineer and further expanded his production techniques.
After gaining notoriety on BET’s Freestyle Friday, where he went undefeated for seven weeks, and appearing on both Terry Urban and Mick Boogie’s “The Great American Mixtape” and Talib Kweli’s “The Blacksmith Community Mixtape,” Cidida partnered with producer, Eibol, to create a refreshingly diverse record that transcends prior conceptions of traditional hip-hop.
The fateful union of these two powerhouses planted the seed of what has now become “Ludwig, Can You Hear Me?” a musically mature record that captures Cidida’s forceful lyrical prowess and pairs it with Eibol’s vocal styling’s and sophisticated musical arrangements. With it’s beautiful and sometimes haunting undertones, all 12 tracks take the listener beyond the sonic drapery of most hip-hop records and encompasses a sonically adventurous spectrum of music feels and remains fluid with the interplay of beats, keyboards, strings, and percussion.
Built on inspirations ranging from Beethoven to Marvin Gaye to J DILLA, “Ludwig, Can You Hear Me” manages to have something for all audiences, offering up “Jewels” for the hip-hop fan or “Sorry” for a pop track with an old-school feel. Almost immediately the grassroots approach to this record becomes obvious, in conveying not only compelling lyrics but also the powerful emotions behind them. In every track the feelings are raw and impossible to ignore. Staying in the Motown tradition, it was important that every aspect of the production of “Ludwig, Can You Hear Me?” remain in-house, with Eibol co-writing the lyrics, writing, and recording all instrumentation and outside talents coming from within their close knit Chung King family of friends, including the talents of female vocalist Key Huggins.
After working tirelessly for the last year, the artists are happy to present "Ludwig, Can you hear me?" to their fans. Turn your speakers up and escape into it's evocative sounds.
I love this collection very much..
thank friend..
www.quantity-surveying-practices.com