'I was humbled to be asked by Werd to write a review for his latest
project. With the release of his 'Salt n
Sauce' video, directed by Omar
Al-Zidjali of redtreefilms, I
expected a straight hip-hop experience with Alien [PE.2]. Which was a false assumption. The overall feeling of the album is very
dark, aggy, reflective and satirical. Lyrically very up front and honest. An
aggravated lament. There are several themes throughout the album, frustration
and comedy he witnesses in the hip-hop scene, his dis-trust for media and
government, his purpose, his moral conscience and concern for the planet.
Socially and ecologically. Multiple genres creep in. Making the whole album
contemporary and relevant. But perhaps what you might not have expected.
The production on the album is flawless,
start to finish. This is hardly surprising when you read the list of
contributing producers. Soaring synths, varying grooves and styles all seem to
merge effortlessly into an overall sound, feel and atmosphere. Despite the
darker feel, there is still a lot of uplifting, funky moments. 'Human Form (Transform)'perhaps the
funkiest. Short, sweet and to the point. His delivery skills are very well
showcased in this project. 'Inner Caves'
displaying his double-time abilities (plus a totally amazing sample) and his
lyrical content is unapologetic and hard-hitting. He even sings a bit in 'Spoon-fed with plastic sporks'. A dark
but very melodic piece. Tracks like 'Escape
the Dying Planet' deliver his storytelling ability, the sense of drama
coupled with epic samples leave a real impression. A good impression. The sense
creeps in that lately he has questioned his own relevancy, yet also plays with
the idea of being a caricature of himself. That his disappointment of what he's
heard/seen in the scene has almost driven him to comment, with impact and
eloquence. Occasionally tongue-in-cheek, but I note the sincerity of his
delivery in some of those cases. Which makes it hard to judge how serious he is
being in his criticisms. Part of me expects that this is his means of
confronting the subject, but also hopefully making his fellow rappers and mc's
think. Perhaps re-think. Perhaps reflect, as he has. As a listener, you feel
included in the questioning he does. Almost a vibe of Werd suggesting -
"You go think about that".
Overall, it's a very good album. I was
impressed. His trademark delivery makes every track passionate in its own way.
The final track 'Leave This Behind'
seemed to epitomise his alienated vibe, but also acts as a question mark. Has
Werd had enough? With quotes from the album like - "Represent, just
resent" you could easily believe he feels unappreciated. But the fact is,
he is appreciated and valued. An active advocate and supporter of his fellow
artists. He's had a break, thought things over and now he's back. I think this
project was his opportunity to clear the air and vent his concerns. However,
now he has done that, could he be looking ahead? I hope so. Sometimes, we all
feel Alien.'
Becca Starr is a talented and respected singer / songwriter based in Scotland. For her music profile page please CLICK HERE
