Kendra G.
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World of Paper/City of Boom is a solid EP of consciousness-raising music that en
Dough, ends, paper, green, cheese, dead presidents, loot, Benjamins, Gs, cash, cream – whatever you call it, we can all concede to the fact that it’s what makes the world go round. But what does this say about the world we live in? What kind of people do we become when cash rules everything around us? Afra Behn’s World of Paper/City of Boom EP answers these questions using a potent mixture of purposeful lyrics, powerful vocals, and urbane, soulful electronica.
The EP features three tracks, each of them an act in a drama unfolding on wax. Vocalist/songwriter Tara Thomas plays the protagonist, a woman disillusioned with the nine-to-five grind and a capitalistic world that defines people by how much money they make. Thomas lays out her character’s struggles in a voice that is smooth, versatile, and has impressive range. What’s more, she shapes her singing style to increase the impact of the lyrics, and her words provide insight and inspiration while at the same time challenging listeners to understand how money defines their existence. Vocalist Walt, who acts as the ‘Voice of Reason’ throughout the three acts, also relays words of wisdom with his ethereal, quiet-storm baritone.
While the lyrics and vocals draw you in and hold your attention, World of Paper/City of Boom succeeds because of its delicate balance between word and sound. Afra Behn’s production is easily enjoyable, crafted as carefully as a movie composer shapes a score. The first act, “The Hustle,” proceeds as steadily as a train, settling into a quick but comfortable tempo, the handclap-driven beat propelling Thomas’ character to prepare to enter the working world. “The Looong Green,” the second act, similarly sinks into a nice mid-tempo groove. Sweeping strings are layered in between breakbeats and a somber trombone as Walt analyzes the reality of the working poor: “We’ve given all we got/to live like who we’re not… we’ve taken all you got/to work around the clock.” Act three, “Drowning Deep,” is a mellow ambient track with lyrics as reflective as they are encouraging. “Raise your head… so you won’t drown,” Thomas emphatically insists, wailing the song to its conclusion with all the emotion of one who’s nearly been overtaken by the water herself. And just as the paper chase threatens to pull our heroine under, Behn throws out a musical lifesaver. “City of Boom,” the EP’s final track, is to the World of Paper as Zion is to the Matrix – that place underground where truth and life exist and thrive. Slum Village alumnus Baatin weaves his slick rhymes through a laid-back boom-bap rap track that instantly evokes a feeling of nostalgia, the sing-songy chant of the chorus easing you into the comfort zone of vintage hip hop sound.
World of Paper/City of Boom is a solid EP of consciousness-raising music that entertains the ear and stimulates the mind to envision a utopia where knowledge of self is the true wealth, the only currency worth spending.
– Kendra G.
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John Book
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I like being able to put faith into an artist and say to myself "your music move
He proudly proclaims he was once a "double deck cassette producer", and as someone who knows the value of a good pause button, I was curious to know what afra behn was about. World Of Paper/City Of Boom (Vibe Machine Limited) is an interesting concept, for the first track is a three-part exploration of our culture's obsession with the almighty dollar. Hip-hop, smoothed out soul with a hint of jazz, the influence seems to come more from Stevie Wonder, Prince and Arrested Development than something like Public Enemy or Pete Rock, yet all of these things can be heard. It's incredible sounding, and I like the idea of exploring a theme throughout a collection of songs. The routine today is three songs, interlude, three songs, interlude, none of them being relevant to anything but the ass. Which is fine, it has its place, but I like being able to put faith into an artist and say to myself "your music moves me, take me to that place where you want me to be". afra behn is that person. This EP is just a hint of what's to come on his forthcoming album, The Vibemachine. I have no idea what to expect from that, and yet if these tracks are a peek into his musical mind, behn should be someone to watch out for in the next few years. Take a hint, look into his music now.
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