An Experimental and Genre-Bending Release from Broken Spaceship
- R.A.G.
- 4 hours ago
- 6 min read
A new EP from Broken Spaceship manages to bend genres in clever ways to create an atmosphere that stands outside the box but blends a color with an edginess, character with flow, and breeds something that is uniquely different but always seems to have this colorful pop undertone throughout it all.
One of the most outstanding attributes of this release is how it incorporates everything from garage rock, hints of punk, hip hop, and electronic, and encompasses an edgy forefront with vast underbellies.
The whole thing was brilliantly produced and comes together like puzzle pieces, but still presents this experimental set of tonalities that layer on top of each other and create these textures that all build the soundscape that you end up hearing in the end.
Let's just start from the first track, 'Dreams".
As the track begins, you hear a rock-style bass guitar line that introduces the song as the lyrics start unfolding.
Beats start coming in, other instruments start layering, the vocals become more intense, and you're pulled right in.
This is such a genius approach because not only does it showcase how these guys are able to tell a story with a certain level of elegance in terms of the lyrics and phrasing, but also how they can build a track to grab your attention and want to know where it's headed.
The vocals rise and fall in intensity, and the levels of energy have a flux to them. It all flows in a forward-moving sort of natural state, but throughout all of that, you have this fuzz tone backing from instruments and a four on the floor kind of beat that makes you want to groove.
This is an excellent song to introduce the record with because it's already giving you some of the best staples that the entire portrays.
Vocals are sort of animated, but you're really paying attention to every single word. It's already a track that you want to start over as soon as it ends, just so that you can soak it all in properly.
Now, this is a record that you listen to from start to finish, all the way through, and in one shot.
Listening to only one or two songs will not really give you the full spectrum of what the EP will give you.
Again, this is a diverse and eclectic way to stretch and bend genres at Free Will, and they take every opportunity to do exactly that, while still paying attention to the details.
I think that's part of the importance here. You hear this unique kind of track that blends different approaches and styles, genres and sounds, but you're still paying a lot of attention to the lyrics and wrapping.
They're telling you a story, and a lot of times it can be descriptive, using amazing vocabulary to really get into detail with it.
"Ghost" is the song that follows up and this one has a bit of a slower burn but still in a really cool way.
This track feels like it's inspired a bit more by an electronic and indie-pop sort of vibe because it's got some cool synthesizers going on and a pretty straightforward beat that is kind of Indie popish because it's light but still has a bit of edginess to it.
A lot of these songs have a very unique sonic presence, and this is a perfect example of exactly that.
The synthesizers and keys get very experimental and sort of take you on a little journey while the lyrics and vocals roll on seamlessly.
The next track is called "Rotten Teeth", which is a song that blends a sort of hip hop dance pop vibe, and the vocals come through a little bit more aggressively at certain points on this one. I really found myself getting attached to the rapping and vocal approach throughout this song, and still getting pulled into the music and soundscape of it at the same time.
This is another one that gets very descriptive lyrically. The lyricist and vocalist is really able to paint a pretty detailed picture, and this whole thing comes together because it's built by Chamy the Chameleon, who is a producer and musician, amongst other things, who really focuses on experimenting with electronic sounds and creating music that is a bit avant-garde.
Ultra_Eko is an audio visual hip hop artist who collaborated on this record with Chamy so that they could come together and bring something unique into the world, and that's exactly what they did.
The final track of the record is called "Endless Puzzle", which is possibly the most experimental of them all and gives you the most expansive and spacious undertone.
I definitely dig the layers and textures coming from this one, and the whole thing really feels like a wild and poetic trip.
The EP is called A Part With Some Significance, and I suggest listening to this one with headphones on so you can really soak everything in properly.
Not just all those descriptive and in-depth sort of lyrics, but also the musical atmospheres that you can sort of swim through.
Upon listening to this EP, I had to sit down with the artists behind it to find out where exactly it came from and what might be coming up next for them.
So, while you listen to the record, have a read through of our interview with Broken Spaceship below.
- Let's talk about A Part With Some Significance! This record blended this hip hop and a gritty garage rock tonality! Brilliant lyrics and outside of the box approaches! Where did this EP come from?
Broken Spaceship (Jose): I produced 4 tracks in a new way for me, I felt nostalgic and excited and I realised I needed to put a voice on this music.
I started an exhausting search for Indie vocalists and hip hop artists, and after months of research I found Ultra_eko.
He was the perfect complement that I was looking for, and his input into the project was almost organic and natural. I felt I was composing the tracks for him without knowing him.
- I'm hearing a few different approaches to this record! Who are some of your biggest musical influences?
BS: I took inspiration from liquid dnb melodies, British indie, hip-hop and post-punk, with a few synths of new wave. The feeling of the instrumental part is like something retro with organic electronic touches.
It's difficult for me to say exactly what artists influenced me for this ep, but maybe you can put in a blend of something like Gorillaz, the jazzy tracks of the early era of Beastie Boys, LCD Soundsystem, and with a little Latino American spice from experimental bands like Cafe Tacuva or Plastilina Mosh.
- Did you record this at a home setup, or at a big studio?
BS: Yes, I have my home studio, and I do all the recordings there.
The mix and mastering was done by Tommy Roof from Roof Records in Ireland.
- Do you guys write songs together, or are there a few main songwriters that bring ideas back to the rest?
BS: I make all the music. At some point I want to convert the project as a band but for now we only work as a duo.
Ultra_eko is the mastermind behind the lyrics.
- How did this all start for you as a band?
BS: I've been an electronic music producer for a long time, my last 8 years I was producing techno, and I was starting to feel comfortable with the style. For me that's not good because you start to become predictable in your production line.
I push myself to go out of the box and go to an uncomfortable, new style that I don't have any idea how to start.
My first steps in music was as a bass player with bands in the 90s, so I decided to make an electronic production, but thinking as if I was recording a band. Drums, bass guitar, keyboards and voice. After this Ultra_eko joined the project and here we are.
- Are you performing live right now?
BS: Not at the moment, but we are getting ready for an Audiovisual presentation for next year.
- Now that this is out, what's next for you as a band?
BS: Our third music video Ghost is out now... available to watch on your website :-)
A new EP is on the way. And we have available dates for summer festivals next year.
- Who's in all your headphones right now?
BS: PPPP FFFF... I'm rediscovering a lot of music. I can say my top 5 now can be Kneecap, ESG, Igorrr, Soulwax and Beck.
- What would you tell people they can expect on this release?
BS: Music for listening alone. Put it on for sports, walk, travel, drive or relaxing at home.
It has a retrospective message, this EP deserves attention. It's a nostalgic past vibe with a futuristic vision.
- Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?
BS: Go out of the box. There's a universe of amazing music outside of the top 10s or platform music suggestions.
We are waiting for you to discover us and make us part of your trip.