DECAYCAST Track Reviews: SIGNOR BENEDICK THE MOOR “Srsly” (Deathbomb Arc, 2018)

Deathbomb Arc recording artist, and genre mutilator SIGNOR BENEDICK THE MOOR holds nothing back emotionally or stylistically with their reverent track “srsly” from the “Toybox” release on the esteemed longstanding imprint, who has helped spawn such artists as Death Grips, clipping. JPEGMAFIA and many more. On “srsly”  Moor begins with an honest, present, fuzzed out vocal presentation “bout to lose my body and soul” as an equally fuzzed out bass drum thuds in the backroom over the  artists melodic and vehement vocal presentation. The voice then mutates to a cleaner version, back to an ancient telephone fuzz, and then again to layered, almost “auto-tune” style vocals as the bass drum and claps refrain and break down, allowing the artists voice to dictate the pacing and  emotional expressions that is SB THE MOOR.

Un-categorized, yet defined, concise yet expansive, the sound of “srsly” is unmistakable, yet nothing quite like I’ve heard in contemporary hip hop.  Moor’s vocals oscillate between sung, spoken, and stuck in sonic sorcery as the track floats into a beautifully melodic breakdown where Moor’s voice shines atop the throbbing, warm, pulsating beat underneath. Warm synth pads creep underneath the beat to give a tingling sonic  topping to the already flushed out  beat, and ends as beautifully as it begins.  Moor creates music that defies rigid genre configurations and limitations and instead offers a futuristic, radical, idiosyncratic take on experimental  hip hop and r&b. Catch them on a  west coast tour right now,  stopping  in Oakland this Friday at at Pro Arts  gallery with  openers  Golden Champagne Flavored Sweatshirt and WOE. Check the tour poster below for remaining dates!

– Maniere Zappone