Review Summary: The choice of a generation
Throughout the entirety of 2013, Saint Pepsi (aka Ryan DeRobertis) was heard slowly redefining his set of sonic principles, which fundamentally consisted of pitch-shifted and looped phrases of vintage R&B and Synth Funk, into a more streamlined and accessible sound. Throughout a series of seven releases that function more like mixtapes than proper albums, his characteristically singular styling of nostalgic pop loops gradually began to expand into something simultaneously larger and inconsistent with his previous sound. This shift was made concrete on
Hit Vibes; Saint Pepsi’s sweeping metamorphosis from DJ to producer. It was here where Saint Pepsi was able to maintain the groovy and sentimental vibes of his previous work, by taking the groundwork of classic R&B, Synth Funk, and Disco, and transforming it into a sound all his own.
Hit Vibes was a celebration of transformation and aspiration, and to be surrounded by so many contemporaries that were constantly attempting to find themselves by slightly editing the past, the album was a revelation of sorts from someone truly attempting to break the mold of a doomed sound.
Gin City, an EP that marks Saint Pepsi’s first release in over six months, is the slow-motion confetti and gravity defying champagne floating in every direction as he exists his neon flashing cryogenic chamber at countdown zero. “It’s Saint Pepsi, bitch” the title track boasts as a beautifully out-of-time yet precise sample of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ hollers over a dreamy bubble wrapped melting pot of trap kits, juke-boosted rhythmic stuffing, and whirling Chiptune synth solos. Continuing on this steam is the vintage hugging ‘Walking Talking’, which sounds like a glorious wink to the pumping future disco Daft Punk’s
Discovery, while maintaining luxurious and ethereal backing tones that carry the party to the heavens above. Expanded amongst the clouds, ‘Baby’ reflects upon more introspective and moody feelings under familiar trap kits and sparking electronics, before synthesizing into its absolutely gorgeous final minute as skyward pianos and sweeping synths tug at the heartstrings.
Closing out
Gin City is ‘Mr. Wonderful’, which further proves Saint Pepsi’s resilient ear for emotion within his weaving percussive framework. Here richly atmospheric vocals stretch in the distance of banger-approved electro wobbles, as an array of sleek video game favoring tones close out this whimsically charged victory lap of an EP.
Gin City is the affirmation of an inspired producer continuing to branch himself away from the context and labels that originally defined him. By incorporating a multitude of techniques and genres into his ever expanding dreamy bangers, he’s not only operating far beyond most of his former contemporaries, but exceeding his own heightened expectations; and despite only being an EP,
Gin City is Saint Pepsi at his most carefree, luxurious, and boundlessly rewarding.
