benja - stairwaytohell

After the last write-up I thought I’d try to dive back into benja’s older work. My understanding is that before he moved into this beautifully spacey and weightless sound he’s arrived to today, his previous sound produced some of the most influential beats and tapes of the past few years in this scene. Unlike many of his contemporaries and collaborators, tapes like stairwaytohell sounded less like it was unearthed from the furthest corners of the internet, but evoked an abrasiveness and edge that still would’ve hit on a late-afternoon boat cruise. The mix was a little cleaner, even when the kicks were full and punchy, and hihats swung and scattered in the same cold vein as gradiol’s. The sample chops always sounded like they were just teetering on the top of the limiter, but were braised in bliss and belonged in shimmering skies. Listen to the refreshing piano melodies of the 12th track, or the supple Spanish guitar of the 9th. As I’ve been writing, I realised just how perfectly his bandcamp banner reflects the essence of his music, both new and old, like two rising and setting suns gliding in parallel that never quite meet, somehow capturing both ends of a gorgeous day you don’t want to end.

KEY BEAT: sth16 - the final beat captures everything brilliant about this tape, with steadily punchy drums that underpin truly transcendent sample chops, euphorical vocals and light guitar licks floating overhead.