Shizz – You Always – Music Review
The introduction to this track is quite an unusual mix of the intense and the calm. The siren sound gives off the idea of intensity, serious, something heavy to follow, yet for the most part the remainder of the music is significantly chilled out – a trip-hop meets classic hip-hop sort of ambience. It sounds great, the beat is big enough to keep it feeling harsh and serious, not something to be slept on, the vocal performance as well – particularly that first one, it builds superbly in attitude and intensity and angst. It builds and builds, giving the effect of the music and the track as a whole having built up in it’s sound scape as you progressed through the track.
The track on the whole is actually a little reminiscent of the sort of dark and heavy sound of hip-hop from the nineties, but this time there is a noticeably and flawlessly crisp finish to the mix and the performances. The combination of voices works really well, the contrast in tone and character keeps the track interesting, and meanwhile you can lose yourself in the overall atmosphere created by the backing track. Everything is fused well in this one, the music is beautifully produced, that heaviness existing alongside the peaceful, synth driven, dream-like elements is brilliant – it gives the track a strength that is only further enhanced by the power of the vocal performances. A really well crafted track, great production, the beat is mellow but hard hitting, standing brightly in the mix, just enough so that it really strikes you and grabs you as you listen.
It sounds like a big track, there’s no real use of melody or musical riffs to give it a signature sound, but there’s quite a striking presentation to the hook section – the intertwining of vocals has a fairly haunting sound to it, so that sticks with you after listening.
By Rebecca Cullen
