When it comes to artists that we’re highly anticipating as release from, those numbers seem to be dwindling down with hopes of at least getting something subpar at best or at least passable to give us a few good spins. The sound of music is changing or is it our ears that are doing the changing and maturing to appreciate other things, regardless of the direction, good music is still out there and still tickles are ear drums with excitement. It’s not every day that we’re treated to a project from one of our favorite duos but when word comes down the pipeline that something heavy is coming, then we’re all ears and that’s exactly what we got from Manchester’s kings of hip hop soul, Tyler Daley and Konny Kon aka Children of Zeus. Delivering their third studio album and perfectly titled, “As The World Burns” comes right on time as the world is doing just that but there’s truly balance when you shut down the outside world, turn the speakers up loud and dive right in. As The World Burns is a solid 16 cut masterpiece that really picks up where the previous album left off and doesn’t miss a beat. Features and guest appearances are kept to a minimum but perfectly placed with the enlistment of UK rapper Knucks “Before We Drown”, the beautiful voice of Young Old Soul “Dopamine” who we’ve been waiting to hear from for quite some time, KSR “Do You Get High” and Anieszka “Water and Vibes”.
As with previous projects, this album is largely produced by the duo themselves, though there are guest productions from previous collaborators too, including Grammy Award-winner Beat Butcha, Grammy-nominated Teo, and broken beat pioneer K15, along with an assortment of new players making moves in the underground neo-soul & beats circuit.
Conceptually, this project continues on with the story to date. An eternal search for sunsets and soulfood, as a respite to the anxieties of the modern world; personally, professionally and globally. Assertive swagger is matched with brutal but sincere candidity. As ever, it encapsulates the rough with the smooth, with reflections on where they’ve been, where they’re at and where they’re headed. There’s no preaching to be found here; just an acceptance of things as they are, an embrace of the environment and people they were nurtured by, and a celebration of some of the finer things in life; slow jams, weed & rum, water & vibes. Raps for listeners, blunt heads, fly ladies and prisoners. All packaged together as another perfect sonic love letter to sound system culture. 50 minutes of big people music.