Close to Modern
Music’s always better when it succeeds despite its environment not because of it. That’s why Iraqi death metal South Korean hardcore and bougie-Toronto-suburb hip-hop (cough: Drake) are always without fail fascinating. It’s also why Chief Navaho’s grandiose Tourist EP rules — because despite the fact that it’s Calgary-produced it doesn’t sound like garage-rock shitty glam prairie country or Christian rap. No this is some slick R&B hitting the same notes that Frank Ocean does: It’s ever so slightly dark. It’s effortlessly hip (yeah we went there). And yes it’s remorseful unapologetic pristine damaged and fucking sexy.
The proof: “Kicking Rocks” is icy electronic fare which drops mentions of batwings (really!) booty shorts and Barcelona streets before being carried away on a smooth-as-fuck vocal track. “The Good Bad and the Ugly” veers into numb celestial electronica betraying its guilt-laden central lyric: “What I did last night / Let me forget.” The emotionless rap of closer “I Fucked Up” also hits on the same notes as The Weeknd’s best: pills are popped parties rage and sheets are soiled yet the track pulsates along with near-psychopathic placidity. See this isn’t good because it reps Calgary. It’s just good period.
<a href="http://closetomodern.bandcamp.com/album/tourist-ep" mce_href="http://closetomodern.bandcamp.com/album/tourist-ep">’Tourist’ EP by Chief Navaho</a>
