By Ezra Lloyd
For their third official release, Manycolors has dropped a single “Rust” —
It seems through sheer force of will, Denver is starting to really produce some world-class music. Specifically, the people who are making this possible are Color Red, a relatively recent addition to the music scene in Denver. A record label of sorts that has been delivering and assisting amazing work every single week ever since they launched.
THE GOOD
Rust arrives at this lofi sonic while still maintaining depth so effortlessly, that it feels like swimming in a sea of silk. Filtered Hammond with a Leslie is a new spin, and it’s hard for me to remember if I’ve ever heard that used in such a succinct and upfront way before.
It comes in and fills the voice of a traditional synth patch or vocal choir, even returning in some of the later chorus sections. There is, of course, a nice almost Dilla-Esque switch up for the last minute of the song. Retracting to a more minimalist palette, it still maintains its depth and quality. Subtly paying homage to in some ways older hip hop beats and the funk and jazz records they sampled to being with.
THE BAD
It’s a bit hard to tell who this track is really for and if it’s really for anyone specific at all. In some ways, it’s actually admirable that the producers and instrumentalists behind this didn’t have a marketing and promotional meeting before they went into the studio specifically to decide what ‘kind’ of song would attract the biggest audience.
It definitely feels like everyone involved is doing exactly what they want to do. However, I do think that there is some trouble following the thread of “Rust”.
To be completely honest, that last minute of the track is killer enough to be its own song, I mean hell. There are dozens, scores even of “live” lofi hip hop stations that play nothing but that sound.
THE VERDICT
First off, Manycolors and Color Red Records specifically have been producing some of the best sounding music coming out of Colorado today. It’s downright impressive, the level of production quality, basically everything. Sometimes, you just come up with a tasty jam and you want to record it and share it with people. There is nothing even remotely wrong with that, especially when you have world-class producers, instrumentalists, and equipment to play with. Even though I land in a slightly “unsure” camp with this song, the one aspect you cannot deny is that it is a Jam, and a damn good one at that.
Catch Manycolors at Cervantes’ on 12/20 with W.R.D!
