Ikenna Offor

1 month ago | narcmagazine.com | Ikenna Offor

Image by Harrison FishmanArmed with a winningly unshowy verve, Squid spiritedly kick off the proceedings, launching straight into the sublime menace of Crispy Skin. The gaggle of now-amped revellers barely get a breather before the Brighton quintet spiral into Building 650’s hypnotic cacophony, frontman Ollie Judge’s frenetic drumming and yelped vocals setting the tone for the night — restless, protean and utterly gripping.

Oct 14, 2024 | narcmagazine.com | Ikenna Offor

Tygr Rawwk RcrdsReleased: 16.10.24For those in the know, Hemlock Ernst – the rap moniker of Future Islands frontman Samuel T. Herring – usually evokes Kerouacian lyrics kicked over jazzy breaks, recalling the heady witticisms of Aesop Rock circa ’01. Although this latest offering totally eschews soulful boom-bapery for angular soundscapes, the bars remain as incisive and freewheeling as ever, steeped in autobiographical cryptograms that veer from aporia to indubitability and back again.

May 6, 2024 | narcmagazine.com | Ikenna Offor

Big DadaReleased: 10.05.24Buoyed by an intoxicating blend of soulful reflexivity and sonic exploration, Yaya Bey‘s sophomore album Ten Fold charts an immersive journey through the complexities of love, identity and self-discovery. Armed with crystalline vocals and arrestingly nuanced lyricism, Bey deftly weaves relatable tales steeped in vicarious emotionality, inviting listeners into her world with sincerity and acuity.

Apr 5, 2024 | narcmagazine.com | Ikenna Offor

Dead OceansReleased: 05.04.24Although notably more subdued than its predecessors, Khruangbin‘s fourth LP – their first in almost five years – still packs a breezily infectious wallop. Conjuring the mildly stoned haze of languid summer days, A La Sala serves up a vibrant yet mellow cocktail of mesmeric polyrhythms, bolstered by swirling guitars and cascading drum breaks. Expressive without labouring the point, each track unfolds like a controlled freefall into cathartic resonance.

Oct 9, 2023 | narcmagazine.com | Ikenna Offor

Blue FlowersReleased: 13.10.23On the strength of two well-received projects over the last five years, Gotts Street Park have inarguably established themselves as staunch stalwarts of the post-grime scene. Pulsing with warm grooves and infectious rhythms, the Leeds-based trio’s retro-modern sound keenly merges electronic and organic elements in a canorous blend of vivid melodies and ingenious loops, proffering an evocative aural experience steeped in vibey catharsis.