iridescentsaturation

[iridescentsaturation]

BROCKHAMPTON Celebrate ‘ROADRUNNER’ With Livestream Concert

It’s been over a year since BROCKHAMPTON’s last live performance, and two years since their last album GINGER. Last week, they dropped their sixth studio album ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE. In celebration of the release, they performed a digital concert from Rick Rubin’s Shangri-La studio in collaboration with digital platform Moment House.

The livestream, dubbed “Live from the Chapel,” opened with (of all things) Bearface on a horse singing Carole King’s “You’ve Got A Friend.” His cover was tender and refreshingly intimate for a broadcasted performance, although the real MVP of the song was the woman feeding the horse to keep it calm.

The feed then cut to Kevin Abstract onstage performing “BUZZCUT,” with the rest of the crew soon joining in. The frenetic lights and wailing instrumental were nearly visceral enough to induce pre-pandemic concert flashbacks (Flog Gnaw ‘19, anyone?). After playing a few ROADRUNNER songs, they treated fans to the older stuff: “BLEACH,” “GUMMY,” and “BOY BYE.”

Joba ran away with the live band-stretch of the show, especially during “THE LIGHT” and “TEXAS WATCHIN’ ME.” The latter, a scrapped ARIZONA BABY track, features slow-burning, jazzy production; maybe it was Joba’s singing (a solid cross between a croon and a drawl), the live band’s flawless execution, or the horn riffs that ushered in Kevin’s verse, but the four-minute-long performance left me wanting more.

The camaraderie between people at a live show is unmatched. It’s impossible to replicate pulling someone out of a mosh pit or crying with strangers during “SAN MARCOS” through a screen, but the BROCKHAMPTON fans in attendance gave it their best shot. 

In almost perfect unison (save for the few audience members with laggy wifi) the chat erupted with “Go Merlyn” every time Merlyn performed a verse and “Where’s Shawn Mendes” during “COUNT ON ME” (which features vocals from Mendes and frequent collaborator Ryan Beatty). They fawned over Jabari’s newfound role as a singer and could recognize a song from the first two seconds of its instrumental.

BROCKHAMPTON are no strangers to the pressures of putting on a good show. Take their Coachella 2018 set. At the time, the self-proclaimed “best boyband since One Direction” had cultivated a dedicated fanbase and recently signed to RCA—they were right on the cusp of mainstream success. It was a moment the group had waited their whole lives for. 

Equipped with matching bulletproof vests and a helicopter, they made a lasting impression. Since then, BROCKHAMPTON have performed at several other major music festivals, charted on the Billboard 200, achieved a TikTok hit, and scored their first platinum record. The set didn’t come without its complications, though. Bearface’s mic stopped working seconds before showtime, and their set was delayed. Afterwards, Kevin Abstract tweeted, “I’m sorry I let y’all down. It felt like a nightmare.”

Maybe it was the lack of a live audience, or the fact that they now have a few years under their belts, but there was no sign of that initial pressure on Friday night. They sauntered across the stage with the quiet assuredness of seasoned performers, wearing a loose dress code of baggy pants and puffer jackets. The individual members danced in planetary orbit, moving alone but feeding off of each other’s gravity. That’s not to say that this was a low-effort occasion. It’s clear from the live band arrangements, intricate set design, and the horse (naturally), that painstaking care went into planning this one-of-a-kind performance.

It’s hard to pinpoint an exact high point of the performance. BROCKHAMPTON played several bonus tracks, including ROADRUNNER cuts “PRESSURE / BOW WOW” and “SEX.” Jabari made his live debut. They were joined onstage by JPEGMAFIA, SoGone SoFlexy, Baird, and ssgkobe. And Joba’s mullet was even more glorious in live action.

All this aside, my favorite aspect of “Live from the Chapel” was seeing each member become engrossed in the music; it was clear from Bearface’s screamo “DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY” outro, Merlyn’s electrifying “BANKROLL” performance, and Dom’s meticulous breath control on “WINDOWS.” There are few experiences greater than watching artists you love get lost in their work, and that’s what makes every BROCKHAMPTON show such a pleasure to lose yourself in.

[iridescentsaturation]

Brockhampton - "Count on Me"

[iridescentsaturation]

Album & EP Recommendations

Album of the Week - Roadrunner: New Light, New Machine by Brockhampton

The term “meteoric rise” is thrown about quite frequently, but in the case of self-proclaimed hip-hop boy band Brockhampton, it really fits the bill. Initially coming to prominence off the back of their hugely acclaimed Saturation trilogy in 2017, it is now just four years later and the band are already onto their sixth album, with the seventh supposedly dropping later this year too. However, it seems the end will come as suddenly as the beginning, as group leader Kevin Abstract announced on Twitter that these two albums will in fact be Brockhampton’s last. Luckily Roadrunner, potential their penultimate album, is arguably their most accomplished and cohesive to date.

Coming off the back of a somewhat lukewarm reception to their previous album Ginger, the rap troupe have come out all guns-blazing on this one, tackling heavy themes of suicide, gun violence, racism and homophobia, balancing out the weighty lyrical content with pop and R&B style grooves. In fact, nearly every track here feels like a massive summer anthem, but with an important message or insightful personal story lying at its core. Also, noticeable this time around is how the band have upped-the-ante in terms of features and guest appearances, with heavyweight names like Danny Brown, A$AP Rocky and Charlie Wilson lending their verses and voices to help elevate some of the key tracks.

Most importantly though every band member is operating at the top of their game here, with no filler to be found as they deliver some of the best tracks of their career so far. From the frantic, energetic opener BUZZCUT, the whistling beat and 00s R&B groove of COUNT ON ME, to the acid-soaked club banger DON’T SHOOT UP THE PARTY, Roadrunner packs in the punches without ever affecting the album’s flow. However despite all the great moments here, its Joba’s two-part confrontation of his father’s suicide that hits hardest, with rock guitars providing the backdrop on THE LIGHT whilst the second part and album closer, THE LIGHT PT.II, offering up a more gospel-influenced, redemptive vibe.

Easily one of the best hip-hop releases of the year so far, Brockhampton have rarely sounded as confident yet vulnerable as they do here. If another album is to drop later this year, I already can’t wait to hear what they deliver next.

Loss by Devil Sold His Soul

However, if you’re after something from the other end of the spectrum to get stuck into instead, then fourth album from London metalcore outfit Devil Sold His Soul is probably the best place to start.

Epic, ambitious and absolutely stunning, Loss is the band’s first album in nine long years, with this cinematic triumph acting as a glorious rebirth. Having seen departures of several band members and personal losses in that time, the central theme seems almost a given, with the band tackling the hefty subject across ten emotionally packed, anthemic tracks. Switching effortlessly between clean and scream vocals, harder and more gentle moments, big heavy riffs to soft ambient instrumentation – in a year with some great metal albums already, this one is right up there.

In terms of highlights there’s plenty to be picked out, including then soaring, rifftastic second track Witness Marks, as well as singles Burdened and Signal Fire. However, it is the album’s beautiful closer, the heart-breaking title track, that really stands amongst the rest. Clocking in at seven and a half minutes, the song begins quiet and atmospheric, before erupting into an aggressive, climatic finale. It is really quite special, and perfectly caps off a mightily impressive return outing. Please don’t leave it nine years next time!

Neptune by Gallant

And finally on the Albums/EPs front, American singer songwriter Gallant released his brilliant new eight track project Neptune this week. Soulful, hypnotic and emotionally resonant, this is another record with plenty of great content including Brandy collaboration Dynamite, the heartfelt groove of Scars and beautiful, string-tinged closer Relapse.

Tracks of the Week

Leave A Light On by Keir & Fenne Lily

Two of Britain’s brightest up-and-coming musicians team up for this gorgeous, acoustic pop ballad, cathartically written by the duo following the end of Keir’s relationship and the tragic loss of his grandpa last year.

Anywhere Away From Here by Rag & Bone Man & Pink

Another collaborative ballad this time between two global megastars, this one features minimalist stripped-back production, allowing the heartfelt lyrics to be carried as they should be by the powerful, soulful voices of the two artists. Goosebump-inducing!

Dawn Chorus by Jon Hopkins

And finally this week, Jon Hopkins released the second track from his upcoming Piano Versions EP, a haunting instrumental cover of Thom Yorke’s Dawn Chorus. Simply magnificent!

[iridescentsaturation]

[iridescentsaturation]

ATTENTION!!!

I now have an Instagram account with even more bh content!!!! @vividsaturation is the username, be sure to follow!!:)

[iridescentsaturation]

WASSUP

[iridescentsaturation]

[iridescentsaturation]

“I want more out of life than this”

[iridescentsaturation]

BOY BYE

Song is by me

[iridescentsaturation]

He’s too cute 🥰❤️

[iridescentsaturation]

Currently listening to: gecgecgec (remix) [ft. Lil West and Tony Velour]

[iridescentsaturation]

[iridescentsaturation]

brockhampton. 2020.

[iridescentsaturation]