TRADITION (MONSUNE)
Selected by Chavo
OCHIENG’S TAKE
Favorite Song: Cloud
Spit Yo' Game/ Talk Yo' Shit: “Choose Your Weapon” by Hiatus Kaiyote is probably my favorite album of all time, so around mid last year I decided that I needed more music like that in my inventory. Through some Spotify deep dives I came across a plethora of new and old age RnB and Neo-Soul artists and of that bunch was Monsune. “Cloud” had been a sleeper hit in my playlist, I only recently rediscovered it this year and it’s been on repeat ever since. “Tradition” is a excellent EP and I’m extremely impressed with Monsune’s talent. He seems to be very confident in his sound and he has some absolutely insane vocal runs that give me full body chills (the end of “Jade” is just *chefs kiss*). The fact I was able to find such a consistent and enjoyable project just fucking around on Spotify confirms my hypothesis that the talent pool in music is larger than ever.
Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
VANESSA’S TAKE
Favorite Song: CLOUD
Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: One of the main reasons this record club started was to help us break past what was familiar to us individually and seek out new sounds, artists, genres, whatever — I'm so glad it exists because Monsune is now on my radar. This EP is such a treat; barely 20 minutes of back to back gems. I listened to it on repeat during an especially long and winding drive recently and it got better each time. It was hard to pick one favourite but the chorus on "CLOUD" steals the show. Honourable mention for "MOUNTAIN" though because it's just so pretty. I'm quite sure this short and sweet EP will still in rotation for me this year and I'm already very happy about that.
Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
OBELLA’S TAKE
Favorite Song: 1998 (honorable mentions to Cloud & Outta My Mind)
Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: Monsune does the thing I love most about an album is just when it starts off and completely grabs you. For me most albums and whether I enjoy them can be boiled down to the first three songs and Monsune brought the vibe front to byke so there was no option but for this to work. It also matches nearly any condition. A drive. A walk. A run. A kickback. A sunday cleaning. The versatility of the vibe is a reflection of the power Monsune is wielding!
Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
CALVIN’S TAKE
Favorite Song: Outta My Mind
Spit Yo’ Game/Talk Yo’ Shit: True to his name and a man of his word, Monsune came through and truly rained torrentially on the shores of the GC Record Club — thanks to the storm warning of part-time meteorologist and full-time Club member Ochavious Bombastus Theophrastus. This record really washed over me, and your boy was singing in the rain. Especially nowadays, I praise things for being short but now realize that what I really mean and want is concise. Tradition has a clear concept, mood, style, and - I felt - recognizable influences. There’s still tons of personality on the record though: a little razzle here and dazzle there that make it so that not every song songs in the same way. My favorite of these was all the “ooh’s” in the “Outta My Mind” hook, I mean are you KIDDING me! He knew he had one. Little moments like that really push this project up to the mountain top for me. They’re short and savoured. Just like this EP.
Lit-mus Test: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
