WHAKAOHO 007: Anna Domino - East And West (1984)

 

WHAKAOHO 007

Anna Domino  -  East And West (1984)

When Max sent me Anna Domino's debut project "East and West" in 2019 (might have been 2020) he said he was sure it would be my thing. I put it on and yes. It was definitely my thing. 

The whole album breathes a sort of acceptance of life as well as a wistful hope of things better to come. When I listen to this album I  instantly feel like I should be at a cafe somewhere rooking out the window, reviewing art or finding tickets to a contemporary piece of french theatre. It is notable that, for a short while, it was the soundtrack to my 30-ish minute walk into Wellington city from my flat. Where I would walk to the pace of "Trust, In Love" the 5th track.

Every song on here is made up of stacks and stacks of loops. Every bass note in the songs feels as though it has been intentionally punched in one by one. The drum programming is spread across 4 bars always staying consistent yet sporatic. Every now and then, a guitar lick or piano sequence will return from a few bars before, but they feel like they always come one bar later than you expect them to. It's magic. It is actually magic to me.

It isn't very long, so every song has it's own place here, but "Trust, In Love", "With The Day Comes The Dawn", and "Everyday I Don't" are songs I always come back to. By far my favourite song is "Land Of My Dreams" which is a romantic, wistful track with a groove and hook that is so easy to recall from memory I am hearing it in my head right now. It makes me very happy.

Overall, a great project that can suit any surroundings you spin it in.

- R

Favourite songs:

"Land Of My Dreams"

"Everyday I Don't"

"Trust In Love"

Listen:

https://lesdisquesducrepuscule.bandcamp.com/album/east-and-west

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUNYAJrvpRo&list=PL1uNaBQCwwSUOIMS-l_bhsqR1bsDeFtAn

WHAKAOHO 003: Cormega - The Realness (2001)

 

WHAKAOHO 003

Cormega - The Realness (2001)

Cormega was off my radar for a long time. When I was younger and I leapt head first into 90s Hip-Hop, I was needlessly strict and ignored most albums released past 2000 for a long time. This is a great great album. It is calm and poetic and makes no excuses for being underground. In this album he makes it crystal clear who his music and life is dedicated to.  The sound is tight and focussed, the production, the rhymes, it all moves forwards at a steady pace. Production credits on this album include Havoc, J-Love, and The Alchemist. 

I first listened to this album while cleaning my kitchen and found it really sat in my head along with the mood of that day. It was a cloudy day, and doing an aimless task tends to let my brain soak everything in a lot more. It was melancholy, this album lives up to its title, it does not shy away from sad stories and lyrics about people Cormega has lost. 

"Thun and Kicko" feat. Prodigy is a Nas diss track, and I had no idea until I actually went out of my way to look it up. Happy to find out through research that they had all made up eventually, especially before Prodigy's death (RIP). Also a great track on this album is "Fallen Soldiers" with its iconic bass line. I would say this album is definitely worth a listen, as too many of these kinds of releases tend to be left behind when it comes to recommendations from other people. I wish I had come across it sooner.

- R

"I treasure our memories together, hard to believe

I'ma never see you again, but i'ma make you breathe with the pen"

Favourite songs:

"Fallen Soldiers"

"Thun and Kicko"

"Rap's a Hustle"

Listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOtBcjPRH8A