S-Type - Billboard

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  • LuckyMe has churned out some enviably big names like Hudson Mohawke in the past, and—at least they want you to believe—family member S-Type, from Edinburgh, is next in that lineage. "Billboard" is one of the most giddily triumphant hip-hop instrumentals of the year. Bobby Perman's sounds are tinnier than some of his contemporaries: his horns sound completely artificial, but they're all the cheerier for it. It sounds like everything is made of hollow aluminum, yet the track's cinematic structure—breathing-break verses crash land into the dramatic chorus—holds a deceptive weight. "Sensi Star" also blows things up to theatrical proportions, turning the pomp of "Billboard" into a soaring overture, while "Flyp City" has him adopting a snarling, streetwise strut complete with synth guitar. He goes all B Bravo neo-funk on the surprisingly warm-blooded "Walrus," with its wonky talkbox vocal and twirling synth lines, and reprises the magnificent bombast of "Billboard" with the soul-calibre horn blowout "You Da Best." The odd one out is "Whole Lotta," which is a by-the-numbers trap instrumental with an aggravating vocal sample and little of the flair of his other tracks. That's fine though: "Billboard" is enough to recommend the entire release.
  • Tracklist
      A1 Billboard A2 Flyp City A3 Sensi Star B1 Walrus B2 Whole Lotta B3 You Da Best
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