egoseed - recipere

(Latin verb) - “to regain”

I’ll write this one admittedly not knowing enough about egoseed’s back catalogue, but purely because I think this is a very special and unique piece of music. This is unlike any beat tape I’ve ever heard, and plays out like a plunderphonics record than anything else; a mismatched collage of sounds and styles to create something that feels whole. recipere is presents itself like an 8-bit diary, tapping every warm key and pad on the drum machine like they’re ink blots from a fountain pen; warm and inviting, but deeply sombre and introspective. I definitely could be reading into it too much, but it feels like it could’ve only been produced by the person who made it (if that makes any sense) - someone who wanted to blend the completely separate worlds of Jason Derulo and Nobuo Uematsu, like hearing Burial score a Ghibli movie. Each beautifully-arranged piano piece gives way to a repurposed vocal, giving the original new light and meaning, like the harpsichord and rnb uniting on ‘first mistakes.’ The project’s pacing lulls you into a false trance, slowly leaping into brittle beats where hihats rattle and kicks drip in odd places. Each track feels like a triumph; like a series of instances of overcoming and “regaining,” only getting to a complete sense of catharsis in its final moments. The rationale I have in my head behind the project might be complete shit but the feeling it brings is undeniable - it’s an enchanting and wondrous tape that wears its influences on its sleeve, and leaves a lasting impact after you’ve turned the final page.

KEY BEAT: red star - I know it’s a boring choice but I’ve loved this beat ever since I first heard it, inviting vocals and clips hitting the pavement somehow working together perfectly, leading to these beautiful tolling bells in the backhalf. It’s so thoughtfully structured and one of many intricately-paced tracks on the tape.