- LSDXOXO loosens his deadpan delivery into gliding rap flows on his latest EP, expanding his sound into something more epic.
- Sometimes it feels like there's nothing Raushaan Glasgow can't do. Since his breakthrough EP on XL Recordings back in 2021, the Berlin-based producer has remixed Lady Gaga and PinkPantheress, co-produced Kelela's Raven LP, opened for Beyoncé on her recent world tour and, at Paris Fashion Week, collaborated with the choreographer Parris Goebel for Nike's Haute Couture debut. All while steering his Floorgasm club night across two continents, holding down a BBC Radio 1 residency, coining his new label F.A.G. and working on a long-awaited debut album. On his latest EP, Delusions of Grandeur, Glasgow foreshadows his upcoming LP (due out next year). Things feel different, as he loosens up his deadpan lyricism in favour of gliding rap flows, and folds punchy electroclash and '00s emo-rock into his bouncy club palette. It's a daring and exciting new era for techno's horny highness.
Singles "Devil's Chariot" and "In Blood" show a grander, more epic side of LSDXOXO. On the former—which samples and plays on the name of Oklou's track "God's Chariot"—Glasgow drops his deadpan delivery altogether in favour of a silky flow—half rapping, half singing—alongside Oklou's fluttering melodies, which he soups up with some naughty 2-step. By comparison, he samples something heavier on "In Blood": one of his favourite bands, Linkin Park. Glasgow channels Linkin Park rapper Mike Shinoda's razor edge as he lets off steam about white guilt over layers of punching drums, breaky flourishes and a chord progression that flashes through like a paparazzi's camera.
Throughout Delusions of Grandeur, Glasgow reels listeners deeper into his world by feeding them newer tastes alongside his classic flavour—with a twist. "Cream" feels like vintage LSDXOXO. He's talking about climaxing over a bumping kick drum pattern, but he pushes listeners on a sensory level with elements that feel purposefully rousing: the finger snaps are crisp, and the plosives when Glasgow sings "I can make you pop" quite literally pop. It's spine tingling. A similar thing happens with the crunch of the hi-hats on "Overload," bringing a grinding, sleazy feel to the bouncing, rubbery low-end.
At seven tracks long, this EP almost makes the statement of an album, which makes the idea of his upcoming debut album even more exciting. As he says in the chorus of "J'adore," the EP's strutting electroclash opener, he wants "more, more, more, galore." It feels like Glasgow is licking his lips throughout Delusions of Grandeur, relishing the opportunity to toy with his audience at every turn.
Tracklist01. J'adore
02. Cream
03. Devil's Chariot
04. Double Tap
05. In Blood
06. Overload
07. Freak No. 2 feat. Six Sex