Our favorite new artist/new music fairy has been busy lately bringing us release after release. Today we tackle the album Off The Grid released by Bósa. Kaelyn has comes in clutch once again to open us up to an artist with a whole lot to offer. Off The Grid is a seven-song work that plays on a lot of different genres united by a chill and wonky production style. The whole album plays so smoothly and really brings this glazed sound styling. As we move through the tracks, you will hear that really polished brand showcasing different masks. This is a great first experience, with Bósa, because the duo showcases a lot of different angles.
Euphoria is ushered in with the album’s first title, ‘Electric Blue’. This track is a really solid at building a muddled sound-scape to be unboxed through the entirety of the song. Both vocally and production-wise, it comes in with this aloof groove. The overtone of this track feels natural and organic, through the use of strings and authentic percussion. We hear a transformation in pace and level of sound masking as we close in on the close of the track. It is a nice little pepper of contrast to the very smooth track experience.
Floating into a similarly relaxing tone, Bósa brings us ‘Batucada’. The track has an audible higher produced electronic sound. It also delves deeper into darker and bassier sounds. Opening as a trance house title and evolving into a really gritty mechanical bass track. We really see a real difference, in sound from ‘Electric Blue’, but see percussion and ethereal lines as emerging staples for Bósa.
Continuing with clear house openings, we get a nice kick line to introduce ‘Melange’. Other than that first strong house melody, the first real zest of the track is that savory guitar line. It comes in quickly and slowly absorbs into the background. We hear the line echoed and distorted to create this really fluid environment. Guiding percussion and really forward rhythms tour us through ‘Melange’. The not quite-recognizable vocals and introduced organic instruments bring evoke this psychedelic trance. ‘Melange’ and ‘Electric Blue’ have a similar production style, but a completely different sound. It is here we see the maneuverability of Bósa’s sound, even when they strike similar chords.
The fourth song relates back to the second, as the first did the third. ‘Prowl’ we get another dark production Bósa track. Opening with produced futuristic sounds, we get something that is simple to allow the distant vocals to poke through. After the initial verse, we drop into a really sludgy bass line. It has motion and body to it, but its high viscosity brings it down. Eventually cutting through that weight is the acoustic string line. It is what gives ‘Prowl’ that edge of contrast, and breaks the mostly electronic sound; synthesizing global culture with psychoactive production.
On ‘Torn’, we see Shri come back as the vocalist and define the beauty of this track. ‘Torn’s vocal line is the butter of the track, and the sandy drum lines are the butter it smoothly spreads over. It is a very productionally exposed track, meaning that you can pretty much hear everything the first listen through. This simplicity is what really allows the track to pop and take many different directions. Like the rest of Bósa’s Off The Grid, the track evokes an out-of-body experience feel. With ‘Torn’, however, the experience feels reflective/meditative; it holds up a mirror rather than opening a window.
‘Cenote’ is another visit to the middle eastern sound style. This track is very bouncy and has a lot of strong bass hits. It moves quickly to introduce snippets of many different sounds, all while riding along on the xylophone rhythm line. Distorted lyrics, rattling bass rips, and electronic guitar all make appearances in the track and bring this really created-live feel to the track. You can see the duo bouncing around from instrument to instrument on a stage, riffing on the same line they introduced. ‘Cenote’ is a smorgasbord of sound sampling and creation.
‘Piranha’ is the closing seventh track. Bósa come with a deep and groovy track to seal the album. When listening, we see a synergy of all aspects of their style. We get the euphoria. We get the creamy vocals. We get electronic production value. And of course, we get those organic instruments. ‘Piranha’ is this cool colored involved listen. It gives the pace to dance to, but the style to melt to. The sound created and used for the drop is something completely new, paired with the guitar riff they are the biggest take away for us. The song closes out ‘Piranha’ on such a wild note and simultaneously flexes the ability and creativity of Bósa.
Bósa has secured a spot in our minds with Off The Grid. In seven songs, they exhibited talent and intelligence to bring really mind-bending music. Not only in the creation of each track, but also on the album, there was purpose to how everything falls together. They showcase a sound that is something so new to the ear and demonstrate the building ability it has. The duo showed us they deserve a spot at Electric Forest; Off The Grid oozes live potential and psychedelic nature. Such a pleasure to come in contact with this album, and get Bósa on our watch list. Thanks again Kaelyn for the connection!
Until next time.
Peace.
Where's The Vibe 