DJ Shabach speaks truth to power on the impeccable flows of “Heterogeneous”. Possessing a keen sense of independence, DJ Shabach spits verses with fire and passion. Carefully crafted narratives dominate the entirety of the album, as DJ Shabach touches upon politics, pants, social justice, and more as the pieces progress. Vocals rest front and center of it all, with all else simply stemming from these powerful clear-eyed observations. Even amongst some of the darkest pieces, DJ Shabach ensures that hope prevails, as the songs opt for a little bit of optimism within these dark oftentimes bleak times. Over the course of the album DJ Shabach draws from hip-hop, pop, EDM, all nicely framed within neon-hued melodic flourishes.
Things open up with the nimble beats of “Wet Like Water” where DJ Shabach opts for an intimate style. A playful quality defines the joyous synthesizer stabs of “#Hashtag” where the lyrics focus upon the transitory nature of online media. Drawing from Crystal Castles’ style, “They Don’t Know” nicely twists and distorts its samples with the greatest of ease. By far the highlight of the album rests at its very core, the title track “Heterogeneous” which takes on a cinematic approach. Reflection defines the meditative work of “Good Vibes” where the piece settles into a comfortable groove. Perfectly concluding the album with a noir-like flair is the stylish “18”.
With “Heterogeneous” DJ Shabach delves into a thought-provoking realm, one that questions the world’s expectations and offers a better, more meaningful way to approach life.
Review by guest editor ‘Beach Sloth’
Beach Sloth has been blogging at www.beachsloth.com since 2010, reviewing literature and music with tremendous passion. His work has been featured at the Art Institute of Chicago and his Twitter has been cited as one worth following by The Fader Magazine.
