TNGHT: EP Review


EP: TNGHT
Artist: TNGHT
Genre: Bass/Instrumental Hip-hop

8.9/10

     Electronic Dance Music.  It demands respect.  Well, maybe “begs” would be a better word.  When an entire genre of music is based on the singular goal of getting you to shake your hips, how can a “patrician” with “superior” music taste take it seriously.  Well dammit if TNGHT, the collaboration between producers Hudson Mohawk and Lunice, isn’t going to try and make them.  The new duo’s EP is a bright, danceable, scary, and musically interesting group of songs that cram a whole lot of shit in 15 minutes.

      The EP opens up with “Top Floor”, a brooding intro.  Dark synths meld with what sounds like Bollywood in Hell.  The beat is strong, but not overwhelming.  The most important part about this track is that there’s NO DROP.  Fans of Skrillex-type bass music need not apply.  The next track “Goooo” is louder, with a descending synth line and snare hits.  The name of the track comes from the vocal samples that run rampant, almost like hooks, in the track.  The snare hits are reinforced with the vocal sample that keep the track interesting and “slappin’”.  The next track is the apex of the EP, smack dab in the middle.  It doesn’t hesitate, repeating a loud and powerful “REACHIN’ FO’ HIGH-REACHIN’ FO’ HIGH” hook that suddenly cuts out to let some heavy brass come in.  The vocals return, in both the original and lower octaves.  The real fun is in the drum programming though, with samples, fills, and beats all overlapping to provide some danceable chaos.  “Bugg’n” introduces some even cooler samples: a baby squealing and a bubble popping, on the off-beats as a strong four-on-the-floor beat keeps the track grounded.  It’s both laid back and funky, and is probably the most down-to-earth track.  The EP ends with the cacophony of “Easy Easy”.  The track begins with a strong ‘GOGOGOGO” before introducing a backwards synth hook that will return in different keys and octaves throughout the track.  The last minute and a half seem to combine all the elements introduced in previous tracks: crazy drums, samples, and bass lines, in this organized mess/collision.

      Separate these tracks make for some awesome dance tracks.  They work to serve that surface-level job EDM has.  However, what really makes this EP great is that it’s well-crafted and MUSICAL.  New ideas and sounds are introduced.  This is not just some “OMIGOD THAT DROP WAS SO FILTHY OMFMDAFDSJK” EP.  This is not just some simple drum program with a couple synths layered over it, it truly is musical.  I challenge anyone who says “real music is made with instruments” to listen to this EP, with all its complexities and layers and musicality, and try to say that statement once again.  8.9 out of 10.

FAVE TRACKS:  Gooo, Higher Ground, Buggin', Easy Easy