Review Summary: Rage is the influence.
Released inconspicuously and with precious little information other than a vague promise of more to come, rapper Ka has reemerged from the darkest alleys of NYC’s underground scene to discreetly drop a brief EP. Clocking in at 12 minutes in length, the five-track
1200 B.C. appears to serve as a sampler for a future full-length collaborative project between Ka and producer Preservation. Much of the minimalistic nocturnal production that permeated throughout Ka’s 2013 effort
The Night’s Gambit has been reconditioned by Preservation to retain the sparseness, yet possess somewhat of a neo-noir finish. In turn, this shift in mood from unsettling to suave leaves Ka sounding less predatory and more akin to his smoothest flows on 2012’s
Grief Pedigree. Ka’s flawless command over the goosebumps-evoking piano keys, subtle jazz nuances, and humming synth line that comprise the frigid beat of “Still Heir” already affirms that he and Preservation make for a great partnership on only the second cut in. “Years” finds Ka despondent and reflective as forlorn whispers and sounds whirr in and out like wind blowing through a cold street, while the brooding atmosphere he rides on “To Hull and Back” recalls the vibes of silent film scores and closes the EP out on a vintage note. Good friend Roc Marciano makes a brief appearance on the apparently shortened track “Fall of the Bronze (New Iron),” nonchalantly laying down his cool mafioso-styled feature before handing it off to Ka’s trailing-off verse and promptly leaving fans waiting for the full song with bated breath. Having much replay value despite its fleeting length,
1200 B.C. is an effective sampler in that it does much more than whet the listener’s appetite. Fans should even be wary of filling up on bread before the main course.
