De Blimp - Shalvah
De Blimp need no introduction on 4chan shill threads – they are essentially at the top of every one! Their third album, Shalvah, is clearly a highlight reel of De Blimp’s early days of songwriting and recording. This is indisputable in the tracklisting; many of the labelled songs are missing their respective parts. Furthermore, Shalvah opts for quantity over quality. As a result, there is very little salvageable.
It’s not without its exceptions, though. The album may be sloppy, but it is charming. Scary Hood Beats is an incredible opener; rich textures and a haunting vision make for a fascinating experience. Turned Stone boasts a stunning atmosphere; it would have been a marvellous follow up. Pink Goym Pt. 1 is incredible and ranks amongst Blimp’s best. Higher Power has an excellent competing vocal track that is dynamic and progressive amidst the compelling drums. As the album progresses, De Blimp get more experimental with their progressions, and Miss De Link is perhaps at its creativity peak. These songs on their own would have made a fascinating EP.
Unfortunately, many songs suffer from awful execution. Songs such as In a Little Fuck, What Happened?, Backwoods and De Earth Got would have worked had it not be for their amateur performance. Some songs have an awful start, but evolve into an enjoyable second half, such as Ride De Wasteland, Icy Hot Ice and Bunga in De. The longest songs are potentially the worst, with only small bursts of brilliance unevenly distributed. Evidently, the bulk of the remaining songs are unmemorable and fall flat.
It has the incredible spirit of Captain Beefheart, without the tremendous skill of Beefheart’s magic band. I admire the Twin Infinitives-esque aesthetic consistent throughout, though the execution is messy. If you’re interested in observing how De Blimp has progressed as an artist, I recommend skimming through the surface.
Below Average
Listen to it here:
De Blimp - Shalvah
