Constrobuz – Shift
Constrobuz is an instrumental future bass, wonky hip-hop producer from Raleigh, North Carolina. Production-wise, Constrobuz marvellously blends these similar elements into beautifully constructed suites. Unfortunately, the songs on Shift are hit-or-miss.
Regardless, there are many of solid songs that stand out. Biohzard is fun and hits hard. Field recordings give plenty of life to The Great White One. All things considering, a very unique song. Cosmodrome is as cryptic as it is captivating. While compositionally lacking, Mars Gangs boasts one impressive, smooth soundscape. Caldera is also captivatingly gritty. The best moments ares undeniably in the second half of the opener. The percussive elements on H(eye) are consistent throughout; they simply fail to differentiate themselves from the competition until the last minute, which beautifully intwines lo-fi beats with vapourware. If only the album had more creative sections as these.
There are far too many duds on the album, though; dragging the quality down significantly. Many songs rely on a gimmick to progress, yet compositionally offer nothing of value. Mechanical Contrivance is obnoxiously lazy. The song is over reliant on wonky beats and reverse samples. 匚卄丨ㄥㄥㄚ and Cyberdivnity are both boring. Chevys in Quicksand wouldn’t even work on a B-side collection. By Technomonarchist Utopia, the artist is clearly out of good ideas. The filler rip on J Dila far too much.
Constrobuz is a marvellous producer, though he far too often relies on style over substance. It’s evidently clear what his influences are, and there are times where his songs truly excel; however, the album doesn’t progress the canon of hip-hop instrumentals as much as it should. A fresh lick of paint is nice, and the foundation is solid, but it’s all far too familiar territory. Here’s hoping Constrobuz will focus on innovation on his next release.
Average
Listen to it here:
Constrobuz – Shift
