Kill Switch opens first with Lazerbeak who introduces himself with “Dedications”. The rich melodic vocals glide over a crisp, steady drum break, and as the hook unravels (listen to our dedication/this whole thing was made for you) it becomes clear the type of impression he’s looking to make; a friendly audible handshake to start the getting to know process. What ensues after is where Lazerbeak is at his best. Throughout seven songs, none of which extend much longer than 3 minutes, LB melds a wide range of styles. One moment he’s dabbling in warm synthesized loops (“Boots & Pants”) and rugged samples (“Torch Light”), and on others moody melodies (“Porch Light”). It’s a biting combination of sounds and rhythms that gives way to a classic, but all together new style of instrumental hip-hop.
Edison, a budding producer who’s worked with Aesop Rock, Sole and 2Mex (amongst others), follows up Lazerbeak with a unique style of his own. “These Songs Are Rabies” ushers itself in with a menacing guitar riff and drum roll, which continues on slowly, rabidly and at a feverish pace. It’s an amalgamation of psych rock and heady boom-bap, and conjures up memories of hip-hop’s darker days. The sentiment echoes on, but not without rich and daring variations. “All Hell Hath No Pennies” reflects Edison’s craftsmanship with its meticulously chopped samples and broken rhythms. And for the final two tracks of his side (“No One Can Hear You, They’re Distracted” and “A Cure For a Case of The Wealthies”) which weave together seamlessly as if they were one long cut, Edison provides an eerie melodic warmth to his ominous death march.[info from fw]