Review Summary: Stepping into the light.
The man behind Vermont-based
nothing, nowhere. is an enigma. Despite the growing popularity of his brand of emo-infused cloud rap, Joe Mulherin has kept an extremely low profile. Up until recently, his full name was never disclosed. Any promotional pictures have had his face hidden under his tattooed right hand. While he never asked for the fame, it appeared all the same. His reported lifelong struggles with anxiety caused him to retreat into the shadows, appearing temporarily throughout the year to give his fans updates on new material. However, with the release of his major-label debut LP
Reaper, Mulherin has made the decision to step into the light and accept the notoriety that goes along with it.
The soft-spoken Mulherin has been releasing music for a number of years, blending a heartfelt and often depressing take on new-wave emo with TeamSesh-inspired trap beats. Among a so-called “Soundcloud rap” movement that has been gaining steam online, his unique display of vocal chops and rapid-fire bars mixed with booming and melodic trap beats stands out in the crowd. Though his music is generally constructed using simple patterns, it’s the delivery in which these patterns are conveyed that has resonated with his listeners. With
Reaper, Mulherin has continued to build on his core sound, adding increased production values and some notable guest stars to the mix.
Though
Reaper suffers from some of the same issues that Mulherin’s previous work contains (namely the occasionally weak lyrics and repetitive song structures), these are overshadowed by his clear talent as a musician. His vocal abilities set him apart from his comparables, from the soaring melancholic highs found on “Clarity in Kerosene” to the smooth rap flows that carry “Funeral Fantasy.” While there isn't much variance between songs, there is a defined sound and a base for Mulherin to build on moving forward.
Reaper represents the beginning of what could become a very promising career. It is two parts of a whole; mournful and bleak, yet hopeful for a better future. And while there are undeniably areas that have room for improvement, Mulherin appears to be poised to take the next step towards crafting his sound into something special.
