Bricknasty – Ina Crueler
When listening to Bricknasty’s vibrant new EP Ina Crueler, the touchstones we hear are numerous; There’s the moody, subaqueous production work of Joy Orbison, the boisterous funk of Thundercat, and the freewheeling, kinetic energy of Brockhampton’s lyrical delivery. Crucially, though, these lads are no pale imitators.
The Ballymun collective set themselves apart by adding a sprinkle of Dublin grit to this veritable gumbo of apparent influences. On the fun, fiendishly bouncy Fashion, there’s a hint of neo soul as a decadent guitar line loops to provide an attractive anchor for the guest rapper to work around. Lyricist KhakiKid might offer up a couple of forgivable clunkers but the chutzpah he displays via his carefree delivery is the track’s locomotive engine.
The strumming work of guitarist Fatboy also shines on Ducks in Row, an anarchic number that’s somehow simultaneously enjoyably laidback and, excitingly, a song that never settles when given the chance. Bricknasty don’t allow you to have terra firma in musical terms, and they like it that way. It’s that sense of an ever-shifting sonic palette, coupled with the modified, sometimes-muffled vocals, that most makes them an exciting prospect. This smorgasbord of sounds is arguably most apparent on the title track; a cracker that fuses acid jazz eccentricities, progressive R&B, and the kitchen sink itself.
If there is an issue to flag here, it’s that some of the new tracks don’t land with the same impact as the already-released singles. This is a minor gripe, however, as Bricknasty sounds too vital elsewhere for this EP to be ignored.
Words: Mark Conroy
