Labels are the bane of bane of any creative work.
Once deemed to be complete, an honest expression is rapidly processed by a food blender of expectations and desires. What is left is a puree; easy to digest even if the individual ingredients are nearly impossible to distinguish. Complexities are substance, flavor, and a slight hint of nuance while simplicity adds the comfort of avoiding any gymnastics (mental or otherwise).
It is perhaps for this reason that the late, great Don Van Vliet named the follow up to the Magic Band's opus, Trout Mask Replica, the only title that made any sense to him: Lick My Decals Off, Baby. For good or for ill, ears became perked. Cacophonous sounds spread out over a punishing double-album garnered the attention of critics, drug fiends, and outsiders. A once anonymous troupe of musicians - led by whatever wily wonders Beefheart could whip up - would be heard from behind a screen door separating the
The bizarre trailer for the 1970 album, once banned for obscene content, merely what Van Vliet would tell David Letterman a decade later: "Lick my decals off, baby; meaning rid the labels children coming."
Of course, Rae Sremmurd is not a rock band. Despite being from Mississippi, the only possible connection to Ry Cooder, or any other Magic Band guitarist, is the delta blues; which is to say the linkage is virtually non-existent. Produced by MikeWillMadeIt "No Type," is the second single off SremmLife. The subject matter is not decals. Likewise, the overarching theme does not concern, as the Migos have stated not once, but twice, labels of the adornment or corporate nature. The album art for the track says it all: these Ear Drummers have no physical preference for a romantic partner.
Musically, the radio friendly song must be classified in the only matter that does it justice. A certifiable banger, "No Type" features a Brazilian funk rhythm. Compressed snares and claps make an appearance - as does vocal syncopation at the end of each verse - but are by no means the primary rhythmic elements. A keyboard melody carries the track's run. Similar in essence to a last year's hydration obsessed sensation, the author's intent is not to be an umbrella. No shade is to be found here (plus the history between iLoveMakonnen and MikeWillMadeIt is covered in this 2014 Pigeons and Planes interview.
A bonafide success by any standard of measurement; especially the Weezy system.
The remix that follows comes from down under, and is free to download, care of Melbourne based Okey Szoke. As a member and founder of Brother Sister, Sam Szoke-Burke is no stranger to combining ideas. Angola frequently meets techno and house concepts on Szoke's beats - evident on his recent "Mahangu EP" and last year's "Spiced Bun EP". As one would expect, then, the "No Type (Okey Szoke Blend)," is not an exception. This veritable re-imagination is a quicker paced track, yet it retains both the original cut's structure, as well as many of the identifying elements; primarily the hi-hats and altered keyboard phrase. The final product, however, stands on its own and combining the best of mainstream hip-hop in the mid 2010s with the percussive tinge of West African dance tunes. In addition to three unique vocal samples and djembe, a new single note synth is added for harmonic effect. The most notable alteration, though, is virtually impossible to miss. Bass is present, but does not take on a similar large, and bombastic appearance as it does in the original. Instead, Okey Szoke opts to forgo depth and sustain for a more direct, bouncy kuduro bassline.
A worthy effort. But promotional or not as with most SoundCloud remixes, unlikely to have staying power. Best to enjoy in the moment
- John Noggle
No comments:
Post a Comment