By Corey Vikser
Staff Writer
“We are now at our best and so Death Grips is over,” read the cryptic breakup letter from rap collective Death Grips in July. Fans and critics alike mourned the end of the polarizing movement started by the group, only to be shocked in early January when the band released a full-length instrumental album unannounced, titled “Fashion Week.”
“Fashion Week” is a major departure from Death Grips’ normal style as the group experiments with new electronic genres and live instruments with no vocals for a unique soundtrack experience.
Following their breakup last year, punk-rap trio drummer Zach Hill, producer Andy Morin and singer MC Ride of Death Grips promised to release the second half of their two-part album, “Jenny Death,” by the end of 2014. After the new year began with no album to show for it, fans wondered if the final half would ever be released.
However, on Jan. 4, Death Grips unexpectedly released a full-length instrumental soundtrack titled “Fashion Week,” with MC Ride mysteriously absent. Every track is titled “Runway,” with a different letter accompanying the name (for instance, “Runway J”), and when read in chronological order, the final letter of each track name spells out “JENNY DEATH WHEN,” hinting at a release date for the previously anticipated LP.
All hype aside, “Fashion Week” is brimming with energy as Hill and Morin implement their signature chaotic style to a plethora of different genres including glitch, metal and trap.
One of the strengths of the album is the intense viscerality shown by Hill and Morin. In the first track, “Runway J,” listeners are immediately greeted with a blaring bass-line and a non-stop barrage of electronic riffs, drums and samples, aesthetically sounding like an homage to the techno soundtrack from “Tron: Legacy.” The live work compliments the digital production perfectly. When live beats become repetitive, the instruments kick in and provide a human element, making each track much more gripping.
Another highlight of the album is that it progresses cohesively through different decades of music, despite the differences between tracks. For example, “Runway T” sounds like an ‘80s disco theme, while “Runway N” relies on heavily distorted guitar usage reminiscent of heavy grunge rock from the ‘90s. The duo’s production is so abstract and abrupt that no other recent electronic release comes close to emulating the sound.
Lead vocalist MC Ride is absent for the entirety of the album, a surprising occurrence given that Ride’s scratchy voice and fury-driven screams land Death Grips its signature style of noisy punk-rap. “Fashion Week” is the first release by the group he has never appeared on, and his absence allows the instrumental side of the group to take center stage, making for a more entertaining album that allows the band to make strides on its own. The impressive soundtrack is indicative that even without its central talent, the members of Death Grips are still brimming with unparalleled musical talent.
Despite the absence of MC Ride’s vocal work, “Fashion Week” is an impressive release that distances itself from Death Grips’ typical style. The use of live instruments is better in this release than any other in the band’s history. Initially erratic sounding productions prove heavily complex and provide for a listen like no other.
“Fashion Week” is available for free download on Death Grips’ official website, thirdworlds.net.
Leave a Reply