Pupils Of The Clock – UKHH Bars
We linked up with Lazy Eyez and Tok AKA Pupils Of The Clock outside The Res One and Illinformed album launch at The Fleece, Bristol, a couple weeks back. They dropped some fire over a Molotov beat.
We linked up with Lazy Eyez and Tok AKA Pupils Of The Clock outside The Res One and Illinformed album launch at The Fleece, Bristol, a couple weeks back. They dropped some fire over a Molotov beat.
Hype for new Fliptrix album Inexhale will undoubtedly be continuing to build off the back of the impressive new stylings on ‘Catch Banter’. Produced by long time collaborator Molotov, this is definitely the grimiest single the prolific MC has dropped to date. Fitting guest spots from heavy hitters Jammz and Capo Lee (both on form) make this a significant move for the High Focus label boss.
Outlook Festival announced an impressive fleet of boat parties this week with tickets going on sale today. Here’s our pick of which excursions to sign up to for the best hip hop on the decks on the deck. Get on board!
Boom Bap:
WHAT TO EXPECT: “Expect party vibes start to finish. We have live acts but we’re about DJs laying down the perfect soundtrack for a boat party on the Adriatic Sea under the sunshine. Hip Hop, Trap, Grime, Jungle/DnB & everything in between.” (Ivan – Boom Bap)
LEVELZ:
WHAT TO EXPECT: Mayhem! The motley crew of MCs and DJs manning this ship/collective have been mad prolific straddling genres, crews and labels over the last few years with affiliations including The Mouse Outfit, Ape Cult and Blah Records. Expect the unexpected. LEVELZ releases have defied pigeon holes but often seen lyricists known for hip hop muscling their way into grime and beyond.
High Focus:
WHAT TO EXPECT: “The yearly High Focus Boat party at Outlook Festival has become the stuff of legends, not only is it one of the first to sell out every year, but I’ve been told by the organisers and the various sea captains that have taken us out over the years, that it’s by far the rowdiest one of them all… don’t miss out and hop on board! JEHEEEZZE!” (Molotov – High Focus)
Diplomats of Sound:
WHAT TO EXPECT: Perfect blends of Neo-Soul and Hip Hop with a Mancunian twist, LayFullStop and Children of Zeus bring the perfect summer sound track. Nostalgic soulful sounds with a new school twist and bars for days.
We’re hyped to announce Outlook Festival as the second of our UKHH Summer Sickness recommendations! Renowned amongst festival goers for its unique heartbeat centred around sound system culture and all things bass, the four day event also has a long running history of cramming a tonne of UK hip hop talent onto its line-ups. Growing itself and its reputation steadily for over a decade, the combination of bass, Croatian sun, beaches, a giant abandoned fort and legendary boat parties, makes Outlook the obvious way to see off the summer with a bang!
To celebrate the Festival’s continued support of the UK hip hop scene and general reputation for sun-soaked insanity, UKHH will be hosting a bunch of related content leading up to and after Outlook. Expect features, interviews, line-up updates, exclusive on site bars and highlights of the event documented in HD.
No surprise that the line-up so far is already boasting an army of talent. UKHH ones to watch include Levelz and Friends, Ocean Wisdom, Children of Zeus, Peanut Butter Wolf, High Focus Records (Dirty Dike, Fliptrix, Jam Baxter, Coops, Ed Scissor, DJ Sammy B-Side, Molotov, Talos), Lady Leshurr, Nadia Rose, Kojey Radical, Melanin 9, Sonnyjim, Datkid, Pete Cannon, Gardna, Concept of Thought, Jman, LayFullStop, Free Wize Men and KinKai.
The carnage kicks off with an opening concert on the 5th of September followed by 4 days and nights of bass riddled goodness across 10 stages. For full line-up and tickets visit outlookfestival.com.
One way to measure Fliptrix’s success as an artist is to contrast the entirety of his back catalogue. His debut, Force Fed Imagery, remains one of mine, and undoubtedly many others, most listened to albums. Even back in 2007 it had a raw yet personable vibe sewn into it, something which has evolved fluidly with the making of each following album. Seven years later and on his 5th LP, Fliptrix is continuing to make music which is both broadly conceptual and endlessly fascinating.
As supporters of his previous work will understand Polyhymnia isn’t a release which can be easily overlooked. To put this album on as background noise is to completely miss the concept it’s based upon. Drawing on inspiration from ancient Greek mythology, Fliptrix devotes the crux of the album to one of the 9 muses of the arts; Polyhymnia the goddess of sacred poetry. Re-enlisting the help of Molotov on the production you can expect a similar soundscape to Road to the Interdimensional Piff Highway, with an abundance of otherworldly themes and smatterings of spirituality.
Throughout the 14 songs there are many moments were Fliptrix masterfully balances the art of creating meaningful music with a refined subtlety. Praise the Sun, one of the pre-released singles to the album, encapsulates this beautifully with the help of resident blues singer, Rag & Bone Man. Making for a shrewd choice for the opening feature. Followed by the eponymous title track where Fliptrix truly embodies his passion for his work with candid yet powerful wordplay. Polyhymnia illustrates Fliptrix’s dedication to making music and how this has altered his life in the process, all of which is performed smoothly and egolessly.
Lean Star Gazer is a roller-coaster into the heart of Fliptrix’s mind, focussing largely on his positive mindset, something which is vividly portrayed throughout the rest of the body of work. This self-examining theme is soothed by a melodic guitar loop which crescendos cinematically into a fluttering flute solo, adding a perfect intensity to the track.
Returning producer Molotov provides the album’s most ethereal moment on Warning, with a steady stream of violins laced with tinkly piano keys. Doing extremely well to sculpt a beat which could easily be featured on not only a hip hop album but the opening soundtrack to film as well. Something which serves to highlight Molotov’s sheer talent and versatility as a producer.
The Message pushes the tempo to a more serious note, where Fliptrix muses about the world and its ever evolving complexities. For an artist who makes tracks with this kind of premise regularly its something he does very well. Revealing just enough to keep the listeners hooked but not so much that it loses its relevance.
Reclaim Your Mind finishes with a psychedelic speech from the tryptamine master Terrence McKenna which ties together exactly what Fliptrix set out to achieve in Polyhymnia. This extra touch from McKenna points to a way in which Fliptrix tries to live his life which is thus reflected heavily in his music.
A brief overview of Polyhymnia does very little to explain the full extent of his work. Its less of an album and more of an exploration into a way of life. Using his music as a platform Fliptrix gives supporters a glimpse into his fierce passion for his work and the inner workings of his life as both an artist and a human.Out of the 5 albums its his most honest to date, surpassing Piff Highway with a new level of refreshing integrity.
While it might not be as jovial as Third Eye of the Storm, its certainly a new direction in his work where the best is still yet to come. Impeccably crafted and seething with intelligence this is one release which is not to be missed.
Review by Louise Brisbane
Polyhymnia is out 08/10 on High Focus and available on Limited Edition Double Vinyl, CD and Digital
Fliptrix Ft. Rag N Bone Man ‘Praise The Sun’ Produced by Molotov out now on Itunes.
Lifted from the forthcoming Polyhymnia. Available to pre order on CD | Limited edition vinyl | Itunes on High Focus
Brand new Fliptrix video for ‘The High Way’ produced by Runone & Molotov taken off ‘The Road To The Interdimensional Piff Highway’