___
/ ____
__\__/_ _____ ____ ____ ____ _______ ____\ \_____
\ /__\_ \___\ \ ___\ \ / \__\ \ / _ / \___
_/ _/ _ / __/__/ __/__\ _ \ / / / _ \_
\___/ / _/_____/ ____/ /___/ \_ \\_______\ ___/ /
\________\ \______) \______\ \______/ \ \______\
\______\
artist.....: Christian Rich
album......: FW14
year.......: 2015
label......: Lucky Number
N/A
source.....: CDDA
moodswing..: Electronic
releasesize: 80.68 MB
tracks.....: 13
length.....: 46:12
encoder....: VBR LAME 3.98.4 -v0
quality....: avg. 243kbps
scenealized: 06.10.2016
Twin brothers Taiwo and Kehinde Hassan,
aka production duo Christian Rich,
placed their first beat on Lil' Kim's
2003 album, La Bella Mafia. Seven years
later, mentor Pharrell Williams
appeared on The Decadence, a nimble set
of club bangers designed to introduce
Christian Rich to a bigger audience.
Along the way, they've crafted beats
for Childish Gambino on Because the
Internet's "Crawl", and for J. Cole, on
Born Sinner's "Sparks Will Fly"; in
2013, Christian Rich landed four tracks
on Earl Sweatshirt's breakout Doris,
and most recently, the duo composed
"Senorita", the menacing lead single
from Vince Staples' exceptional
Summertime '06. On the surface, their
production work hasn't been
particularly groundbreaking, and their
debut album, FW14, doesn't make an
immediate impact. But midway through
the record, near the end of the JMSN-
featured "Fast Life", a bright flurry
of drums move FW14 from mostly
contemporary fare to an international
sound closer to their Nigerian roots.
It's another subtle shift for a group
that's built a strong career on
understated creative turns.
The album is loosely conceptual, with
references to traveling through space
and time and a premise derived from
sci-fi novelist Philip K. Dick's VALIS
trilogy and We Can Remember It For You
Wholesale, and director Christopher
NolanÆs 2014 film, Interstellar.
Musically, FW14 brings to mind The Love
Below, the Andre 3000-led second disc
of OutKast's award-winning LP. The pace
and influences are similar, and both
albums take their time reaching their
destination. It drifts comfortably
through the cosmos, and a song like
"FACE" benefits from a wafting
ambience.
The album thrives on a technical
prowess that grows more refined over
its length. FW14 features several
collaborators whose names might be more
recognizable than the group's, even if
they've spent several years crafting
hits for Top 40 radio talent. But on
FW14, and working with Vince Staples
and singers Jack Davey and Niia, the
group chops their vocals and re-filters
them through the arrangements, keeping
the producers at the forefront.
The music centers on glossy EDM grooves
while mixing in jazz, global dance, and
'70s funk. Thematically, FW14 feels
like a romantic jaunt through the
universe, following the ups and downs
of a couple with common relationship
struggles. Through songs like "Real
Love"ùa nostalgic R&B number featuring
vocalist Angela McCluskey and the
GoldLink-assisted "Compromise", there's
a prevailing intimacy in the album's
second half. The aforementioned "FACE"
delves into unconditional commitment:
"Let's go half in life," goes a line
from the track. "I don't need so many
things to myself." FW14 has a gentle
touch that grows more intoxicating with
each listen, an album that moves calmly
without much commotion, gradually
taking shape.
psst, more info at luckynumbermusic.com
01 Yellow Moon 00:40
02 High 03:02
03 Disappear 03:52
04 Forever Ever 03:25
05 Bells 03:08
06 Real Love 03:06
07 Fast Life 04:49
08 Better to 03:27
09 Vompromise 04:25
10 Face 04:43
11 Seven 03:04
12 Glory 04:51
13 What More 03:40