Now on their fourth album since coming back after a 7-year gap with Humanz, the digital band masterminded by expert collaborator Damon Albarn is still running the Gorillaz renaissance smoothly. While the quality might have peaked with the outstanding and truly underappreciated Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez in 2020 (where’s season two?), their latest … Continue reading Gorillaz – Cracker Island
Synth Funk
Steve Lacy – Gemini Rights
With just how long it feels like Steve Lacy’s name has been in the liner notes of tastemaker artists across a wide span of genres, it’s incredible that he’s still only 24 years old. A member of California R&B and funk collective The Internet since his late teens, he’s since crossed over with acts like … Continue reading Steve Lacy – Gemini Rights
St. Vincent – Daddy’s Home
Three and a half years after teaming up with perennial producer of the moment Jack Antonoff for the excellent Masseduction, alt-rock and indie-pop superstar St. Vincent is back with something completely different – business as usual for the multi-instrumental experimentalist. Her sixth album Daddy’s Home is loosely based off of a moment of reckoning with … Continue reading St. Vincent – Daddy’s Home
Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
If there’s one single benefit to the world that the Trump presidency has provided, it’s the fact that it has seemingly reignited Damon Albarn’s creative muscles in a major way. On virtual band Gorillaz’ third album in four years since taking an extended break for the better part of the decade, they once again take … Continue reading Gorillaz – Song Machine, Season One: Strange Timez
Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 3
A musical prodigy and the disciple of both Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock, multi-instrumentalist Jacob Collier has made a lasting impression on many musicians due to his unparalleled technical skill and understanding of music theory. The third installment in his Djesse series comes loaded with quite a few interesting guests, but not even they can … Continue reading Jacob Collier – Djesse Vol. 3
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Who could have seen this one coming? Tropes of 80s synthpop and disco-influenced sounds have been working their way back into the playbooks of the most forward-thinking pop stars in the industry for a while now, but nobody has truly modernized them in a way that’s so undeniably fun and futuristic like UK sensation Dua … Continue reading Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Childish Gambino – 3.15.20
After a somewhat confusing rollout involving a mysterious website that could only have come from the mind of the eccentric and boundlessly creative Renaissance man that is Childish Gambino, the “single-track opus” 3.15.20 has finally arrived on streaming services and it’s just as weird as you might expect – though not always in the best of ways. … Continue reading Childish Gambino – 3.15.20
LCD Soundsystem – american dream
Critically acclaimed new wave group LCD Soundsystem reunite for their fourth studio album and first in seven years, american dream. The band returns to their traditionally lengthy tracks and winding, electronic and funk-infused instrumentals, as frontman James Murphy delivers some self-aware lyrics about his declining creativity and increasing age in a faster-paced world. american dream is a … Continue reading LCD Soundsystem – american dream
Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
Versatile DJ and frequent hitmaker Calvin Harris’ 5th studio album is a reinvention of sorts. While he has frequently incorporated some aspects of funk and hip-hop into his music in the past, he has never attempted to make this much of a fully-focused and cohesive project. Harris abandons the formulaic dance drops here, instead turning … Continue reading Calvin Harris – Funk Wav Bounces Vol. 1
Ben's Beat - Music Reviews 