4kapas & jmat - gloyian I

As someone whose been putting out liquid gold since at least 2016, I could pick any 4kapas release of the last 8+ years but want to speak about one of his most recent. A key cornerstone of an earlier soulhop scene, 4kapas’ distinct sound can be found across many a 2010s compilation or collab tape, heavily ingrained in this type of music to this day, whether landing on the cakefromhellworldtour comp or multiple spots on Cise Greeny’s most recent album. The first instalment in the gloyian series I think sees his mystique and deep roots in soul and new age reach new heights. Beyond the enjoyment and exuding warmth that 4kapas delivers on almost every beat he’s ever laid down, he seems to strive to create a religious experience with his tapes, like the act of making his music is dedicated to something greater than the music itself. gloyian I sounds like the cover in that it’s often not quite what it seems, like the grand church almost being superimposed over a deep blue, occasionally cracking over the pews and checkered floors only if you look closer. This to me is how 4kapas makes his beats in a sense; very simple on the surface but lacing each track with drums to where you can’t actually imagine the groove of the original source material. Take the track ‘mom and dad’ for example, seeming like a simple loop on the surface, but the odd placement of each kick and the swing of each hihat means you only feel the snare from the sample when he wants you to - sometimes you can hear the tail of it like it’s cracking through, same as on the cover. Even though I think the technical aspect of his music is really instrumental to it, it’s in the source material that I fall in love with his tapes, gloyian I being no exception - every 80s-tinged synth lead and sliding guitar sounding like it was godgifted (like how did he even find that amazingly psychedelic sample on ‘discover you’??) There’s a range of material throughout the decades, but his signature sound is ever-present with how he places the drums, lifting every beat to new heights. I wish I knew a lot more about jmat than I do but their contributions are equally brilliant, complimenting the overall texture and energy of the first half with their own set of ideas and vignettes. I always leave a listen of gloyian feeling full of hope, running it back again and again as 4kapas and jmat deliver the divine with every loop.

KEY BEAT: soul to soul - the kinda music that makes you feel like everything is okay, I get chills every single time the repeated vocal and little sax embellishment hits on this track - just absolute bliss.