The new single from WAKE finds the local hip-hop collective indulging their more abrasive tendencies while still finding room to administer the occasional earworm. The slurred production that propels the song forward is noisy and agitated, with a roiling dub bass line that snakes through the mix with queasy menace. For the first minute-and-a-half, it seems the group is intent on leaving behind one of their most grim and contorted efforts, but then all that seething gloom dissipates, the black clouds start to part, and in comes a calming wave of gently reverberating synths to set the tone for the potent verse to follow. WAKE have always existed at the intersection of old-school bravado, well-honed experimentation, and woke politics, but rarely have the divisions been so distinctly drawn as they are here. Given their recent hibernation and lack of promotion for “Dead Flowers,” it’s unclear what the future holds for the group, but, creatively speaking, they remain as bold and compelling as ever.
More Info
Web: wakeatl.com
Bandcamp: wakeatl.bandcamp.com
Facebook: @wakeatlanta
Instagram: @wakeatl
SoundCloud: @wakeatl
Twitter: @wakeatl
Tumblr: wakeatl.tumblr.com