ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE REVIEW

 

    

    If there is one way to describe this new record from BROCKHAMPTON, it would be “different.” ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE is as crazy as its long-ass title sounds, which could be hinting at the “boybands” evolution into something that is unlike anything we have heard from them before. The album is laced with an astounding amount of inspirations and utilizes a gorgeous variety of styles, textures and emotion to create a record that is vividly colorful in every way. The record seems to rely on a theme of innate melancholy and sorrowful reflection to detail the groups’ collective experiences, producing moments of anger, loss and unexpected rejuvenation for the minds of all members. ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE is perhaps the final transformation of the idyllic pop-hop boyband, delivering an interdimensional dive into the essence of the new form the group has taken, underscored with a distant notion of pain as this project might very well be one of their last.

    This album is steeped in elements that set a stark contrast to BROCKHAMPTONS’ contemporaries, something that they have showed in the past with their unique choices in sounds and song structure on the likes of their Saturation Trilogy and their most recent project GINGER. The first track “BUZZCUT”, a track whose themes deal with literally “cutting off” people who are damaging to you, is a track that oozes confidence. Sonically laced with trippy, off the wall synths and cradled by ominous, hard hitting drums; the track is a quick dose of just how ridiculous the boyband can be, and the Danny Brown feature on this cut only helps to spur along the tenacious energy of the song. “CHAIN ON,” featuring JPEGMAFIA is a track of social commentary on the state of unrest in America, with chilling bars from Kevin Abstract like “If I could keep your eyes on me long enough, I could probably trick you into thinkin’ that I’m right enough.” The cut sounds like a Gorillaz track that has been partially stripped of pop-alternative elements and has been slowed down in tempo, holding the bars in a mysterious, gorgeous 5 chord synth progression and the occasional drum sound accompanied by the underlying, raw bass. The next track off the beginning of the album that is crucial the theme of the record is “THE LIGHT.” The track is an abrasive, aggressive track heavy with guitar chords and raucous percussion, maintained by a beautifully dark and droning bass. The track has Kevin and JOBA address personal struggles in their lives, such as the suicide of Joba’s father and the personal relationships Kevin Abstract has dealt with. BROCKHAMPTON has often used the phrase “The light is worth the wait,” with “NEW LIGHT” even being in the title of the record, so we can assume this new evolution is towards this “Light” that will lead to the creation of what they want to be.

    The track “I’LL TAKE YOU ON” starts to delve into the realm of pop and trap music as it creatively blends the two styles into a flowing mixture of both with super catchy percussion elements and vividly blissful synths that resonate in and out of the track. The real appeal though is the ever constant harmonization that bearface, Joba, Kevin Abstract and Matt Champion do on the chorus, as it sounds luscious and ripe with gripping feelings of love and loss. “OLD NEWS” follows this evolution into a groovy R&B vibe, however this cut is extremely mellow and is characterized by these heavenly chord melodies and overwhelming synths that layer the instrumentation and are always present as the track progresses. The track deals with past relationships and an interesting element is that BROCKHAMPTON producer Jabari Manwa actually signs the hook, with lyrics like “I did this all for you, what more I gotta prove? The games you put me through, they’re oh so old, be new.” “WHEN I BALL” is another experience altogether; a cut with moody and nostalgic piano driven production from Chad Hugo of the Neptunes, graced with intermittent orchestral elements that delicately add some colorful flavor to the song as a whole. “DEAR LORD” and “THE LIGHT PT. II” serve as the ending to the record and are cuts that should be listened to consecutively as the “DEAR LORD” is a spoken word, gospel like harmonization that transitions beautifully into the last track. “THE LIGHT PT. II” incorporates some angelic female vocals laced in the background, urged along by some raw, mellowed out percussion. There are also some gorgeous guitar chords to accompany the unfiltered traumas that Joba and Kevin Abstract reflect on as the album draws to a close.

    This record was somewhat unexpected, as it was vastly different from anything that BROCKHAMPTON has released in the past. Utilizing a dynamic variety of styles and sounds, ROADRUNNER: NEW LIGHT, NEW MACHINE takes advantage of the unlimited talent of its members, able to use each of them in a unique way that further adds to the artistic and emotional layers that seep through the cracks of this record. A few tracks fall short of being perfect, but this is a minor issue within a record that has so many positive elements at its disposal. Kevin Abstract said that this record will be their second to last and hopefully, with each of them basking in their own “New Light,” they will end their saga with a glorious album like this one that will be remembered long after they are gone.

Score: 9/10