Ryan Hemsworth & Lucas - Taking Flight

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  • Ryan Hemsworth has made a career of being shy. Those qualities made his earliest music stand out—he took ideas from hip-hop, trap and downtempo electronica, and painted them in gentle brushstrokes. But as he gained popularity and signed with Canadian indie giant Last Gang, his music grew glossier and crossover-friendly, with guest spots from artists like R&B singer Tinashe. Last year, the Toronto producer turned his ear back towards the underdogs with Secret Songs, an outlet for near-unknowns who make Hemsworth's kind of childlike music. Secret Songs racked up over 20 releases in a year, but Hemsworth himself had yet to appear on the label. Taking Flight, his Secret Songs debut, is also his first major release since last year's emo-influenced Alone For The First Time LP. It's a collaboration with Seattle producer Lucas, and though it's hard to say exactly what the outsider adds, the music they make together looks to the early days of Last Words. From the scruffy synths and plaintive guitar strums on "Angel," the EP feels like going back to basics. The track is among Hemsworth's prettiest, built around a single vocal gasp, some sound FX in the background and not much more. The drums are surprisingly rough, which gives the EP a homemade feel. The dreamy "Long Time" is the work of a rap fan raised on Dntel—its knocking boom-bap beat is cushioned by comforting synths, bird sounds and guitar—while "From Grace" feels folky with rustic strings and mumbled vocals. On "White Light," the duo pair tender cello with Brainfeeder-esque found-sound percussion. "U Remain" is a hip-hop lullaby with lazy, ambling percussion. Most of Taking Flight taps into Hemsworth's past, but highlight "Cherished" negotiates his present. With a big, sweeping melody and svelte synth textures, it stands out on an EP that otherwise feels like a comfy sweater.
  • Tracklist
      01. Angel 02. Long TIme 03. From Grace 04. White Light 05. Cherished 06. U Remain
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