Oh No

Strings of colored lights rapidly blink like a fluorescent snake, illuminating the dark room and all the sweat-drenched patrons that inhabit it. The glistening lights are accompanied by swift melodic blips, as an indigo hue steadily fills the space and reveals a hooded woman onstage. She begins to contort and sway her limbs to the sounds in swirls of wispy fabric. The indigo slowly transitions to a deep cerulean, and finally a glimmering gold as she starts to sing . . .

In a world infused with countless contrasting electronic influences, the lines that define exactly what “pop music” is are increasingly blurred. Euphonious vocal melodies may still be the standard, but instrumental palettes can be anything. This freedom allows compelling singers to surround themselves with experimental elements while retaining the “pop sound”. Oh No is the newest full-length from Canadian artist Jessy Lanza.

The seraphic singer teams up again with Junior Boys’ Jeremy Greenspan to craft another album filled with eclectic pop perfection. Greenspan returns with his versatile electronic arrangements for which he’s known, traversing genres including minimalist r&b, house, and footwork. The most prominent divergences from the previous album are Lanza’s highly refined vocal skill and a distinct shift towards a more glistening, buoyant mood.

Although sadness remains a prominent topic in these songs, the way that it’s conveyed is vastly different. Where Pull My Hair Back communicated the sorrowful subject matter in a predominantly icy, subdued tone, Oh No translates it into gorgeous compositions that focus on glowing aspects of vulnerability and triumph. Lanza is redefining what it means to be a pop icon. If you’re seeking eclectic, electronic pop, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

You’re walking through the rain between the city’s colossal buildings when you fall through an open hole in the asphalt. You plunge through the darkness into murky, putrid water. Dimly lit torches line the filthy walls of the tunnel, so you follow them. After a long while, you enter a tight opening and emerge into a massive dome filled with harshly constructed buildings. You enter the nearest door and walk into a club of some sort. You sit, and the lights go down . . .

When it comes to hip-hop, my personal stance is the filthier and more raw, the better. You Disgust Me is the newest full-length from duo Gangrene, made up by veteran producer/rappers The Alchemist and Oh No. Both of these artists need no introduction, as their respective, equally mountainous bodies of work are rooted in and throughout hip-hop’s extensive history; yet, they still manage to surprise with this one.

The concoction of Alchemist’s no-holds-barred sample frenzy and frigidly synthesized boom-bap beats, mixed with Oh No’s compellingly rhythmic productions results in some seriously grimy trunk-rattlers. Each track is tinged with vocal samples spoken by a multitude of whacked-out, substance-influenced individuals, giving the record an eerily captivating, slimy back-alley feel; like an entrancing, artistically grotesque film.

Both Alchemist and Oh No are highly adept lyricists in their own right, and prove it time and time again across this record, but it’s worthy to note the quality roster of features. Action Bronson, Chuck Strangers, Evidence, Havoc, Fashawn, Your Old Droog, and the late Sean Price (RIP) contribute killer verses that further accentuate this treasure in a trash can. If you’re seeking wonderfully filthy hip-hop, this album is for you.

– stasi (@stasisphere)

Stasisphere

Oh No by Jessy Lanza

You Disgust Me by Gangrene (The Alchemist + Oh No)