Finally, New

Tampa Bay rap duo They Hate Change have an omnivorous musical appetite. Since childhood, theyve used the Internet to research and track down recordings from countless genres, with numerous localized styles of hip-hop and bass music capturing their attention as much as Krautrock, alternative, and emo. After a series of now-unfindable early releases, they put out two albums and a string of EPs on Deathbomb Arc, the fiercely independent Los Angeles label with a similarly anarchic, free-form ethos, best known for releases by genre-busting experimental rap acts like JPEGMAFIA and clipping. THCs 2020 EP 666 Central Ave., released by Godmode, concentrated on the duos fascination with British jungle and drumnbass, finding common ground between triple-time Southern rap flows and screwfaced breakbeats. Finally, New, their first album for indie giant Jagjaguwar, is their most seamless fusion of styles yet, with atmospheric breakbeats creeping up on Miami bass rhythms, and the two emcees effortlessly slipping in between Dirty South cadences and East Coast flows. Theres more than a little OutKast in THCs boundary-crossing spirit, and not just because they happen to be a duo with a member named Andre. Their party-friendly vibe is a perfect mixture of hyped-up exuberance and laid-back smoothness, with the urgency of the lyrics sometimes matching the head rush of the beats. "Who Next?" is a swirling blend of ragga-jungle and Atlanta-bred rap, and "Reversible Keys" (with Vritra) is an outer limits drumnbass excursion that drifts away from rhyme structures. "Some Days I Hate My Voice" has a striking verse addressing member Vonnes gender dysphoria, including references to transgender musicians Jackie Shane and 100 gecs Laura Les. "Perm" is somewhere in between booty bass and breakbeat hardcore, but less fun-loving and more uneasy and spaced-out. The album cruises into the sunset with the futuristic glide of "From the Floor," which bears a feature credit from Orlandos fabulously named DJ GAY-Z. Finally, New is a fitting title for a major release by an act with a fresh, distinctive sound theyve been quietly developing for years. ~ Paul Simpson

デスボム・アークで作品を重ねていたタンパベイのプロダクション/ラップ・デュオが、ジャグジャグウォーに移籍して新作を発表。クセの強いビートとディープな質感がエクスペリメンタルな印象を補強してくるものの、アッパーなベース・チューンの"From The Floor"や"Who Next?"あたりはダークなダンス・トラックとしての機能性も十分。かつてのレーベルメイトであるクリッピングやDos Monosのサウンドが好きな人にももちろん推薦。
bounce (C)轟ひろみ