Review Summary: An album of individuality and wisdom.
Return of the Astro-Goth is a record that beckons, nay, demands you to enter its realm, one with a dreamscape of swirling stars painted onto the darkest of canvases. It’s hypnotic and mesmerizing, whether it be the tranquil beats off of “Secrets of the Path” or the loose flow that rolls so effortlessly from “Constellations”, Yugen Blakrok proves why she is a queen of South African hip-hop, her overtly present African accent seeping perfectly into her chill flow. In any given case the words simply roll of her tongue with ease, being particularly mellow yet vibrant when paired with the simple, yet dark and atmospheric beats.
The strengths of this record go beyond atmosphere and flow, however.
Return of the Astro-Goth is a record of enlightenment, a record of perseverance. Lines such as
“Slow and steady wins the race/keep your nose to the grind/out of all the things to waste the most powerful is the mind” are among the most empowering i’ve heard. It reminds the listener that their thoughts, their mind holds power and importance, and that you should always embark on expanding them. “It’s all in the chest/how the chi transforms your breath/what’s bred in the bone comes out in the flesh” is another fantastic example, being particularly powerful at a time where people think with a hive mind, where people have lost their individuality. It is during these times where knowledge is beyond necessity, and so Yugen Blakrok reads to us from her bible, hoping to flare the sputtering fires of knowledge.
Yugen does not carry this message alone however. On the track “SisterSlash” Yugen and Likwid harmonize verses as if they were split from the same mind, with Likwids deeper, bolder rap style providing a perfect extra bit of backbone to Yugens much more loose, laid back style. Then there is the track, “Constellations” which is perhaps the most intriguing and creative track off this album. A myriad of emcees add to the melting pot, with Robo the Technician adding a perfect heavily-African inflection (even more overt than Yugens, in fact) to create something that can also be described as “tribal”. In both cases, it is these roots that create a sense of spirituality, imbruing the tracks with a dose of African mysticism.
All of these factors aid in making
Return of the Astro-Goth one of the best albums of its kind. The beats and flow melt into your soul, the lines delivered are of purpose and imminence, and the features add a perfect amount of spice to an already interesting, and perhaps even lovely concoction. Maybe it's this sense of completion that makes the stars shine so radiantly, that makes the black canvas so bold. It is a stark contrast to the world that surrounds us, reminding us that on this earth brandished with the mark of ignorance, we can still become the stars that illuminate the night sky.
