Chromatics
Kill For Love Chromatics might sound like a color scheme to most, but if you’ve watched the cool-headed, stuntman-turned-hero film Drive, then there’s no doubt that your ears have experienced the smooth, analog-textured synth pop of Portland’s very own. With their most recent 90-minute release, Kill For Love, Chromatics have soared into the indie scene as one of the leaders of the new Italo disco movement, formulating a sound combining vintage 80s synthesizers and arpeggiators layered with crisp guitar melodies and backing bass. With a heavy presence of reverb, the dreamy yet chilling voice of Ruth Radelet, and a constant loop of a classic crackle and pop from an old vinyl, Kill For Love is their most visionary effort to date. While tracks such as “The Page” and “Back from the Grave” standout as the most poppy and major-chord oriented, it’s the 8-minute instrumental, “Broken Mirrors,” that loses you in its cryptic, steadily rising mix of single note strings and thickly stroked guitar sections. Composed and engineered by Glass Candy's Johnny Jewel, who has been on the Chromatics lineup for the past two albums, Kill for Love will keep any synth lover yearning for more. -JD
Wale
Ambition Straight off the streets of Washington D.C., hip-hop artist and rapper Wale (pronounced Wah-lay as he makes clear in many of his songs) is a unique voice in a sometimes carbon copy genre. Incorporating elements of go-go, a hard percussion disco style founded in his home city, Wale delivers a strong sophomore album with Ambition. Recently signed to Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group, Wale has matured his sound and broadened his concepts since his 2009 debut. Wale exhibits an intellectual side and speaks of the bigger picture throughout this album, pulling big name features like Kid Cudi on “Focused” and Rick Ross and Meek Mill on the title track, “Ambition.” Although he has a new sophisticated mindset, he still knows how to lay down playful, fast-talking wordplay that helped him get his start. “Lotus Flower Bomb” catches him seamlessly flirting while never compromising for a smooth, layered hook. Although Wale may still be finding his niche in the rap industry, he offers an original sound that only seems to be getting better and better, proving that he truly has the ambition to be the best.
-GS
The Polish Ambassador
Homeboys in Outerspace: Episode 2 Greetings earthlings! The Polish Ambassador and his new crew of homeboys have arrived. As the most heavily armed space dude to land on our planet since Optimus Prime, The Polish Ambassador returns to the helm of his funked out, flying vessel with the next installment of his epic saga, Homeboys in Outerspace: Episode 2. Remixing the likes of the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, and Dead Prez, this collection of hip-hop traveling at ludicrous speed propels listeners into the Ambassador’s glitchy galaxy. The hard hitting, smooth flowing pace of Rye Rye’s “Bang” launches this five-part journey into orbit. Navigating its way through a field of chopped up vocals and synthesizers riding shooting stars, the Beastie Boys’ “Sure Shot” transforms itself into an easy listening space ballad. While maintaining the heavy undertone of the original, Jay-Z’s “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” blasts the possibilities between the rap/electro crossover into the far reaches of the universe. May the funk be with you. Until next time… -KC