After a stellar 2017 that saw him drop his debut mixtape Of The Forest, and team up with Apple Music to release Nazarite, Bobandii is kicking of 2018 with a bang. His new album/short-film Luminescence is creatively ambitious, and sees the rising superstar go what I’m calling ‘full-Bon Iver’. There’s more of the ambient production that I expect from Bobandii, and a lot more singing. We’ve heard him sing before, using both autotune and a Prismizer style vocal-effect, on several past tracks, but this album sees it being used almost exclusively.
It makes sense as well. Luminescence is inspired by a relationship that didn’t work out, leaning heavily on themes of heartbreak and offering a very open and honest reflection on the relationship. The track On and On, is a call and response between Bobandii and an ex-girlfriend, as they each reflect on their first meeting and dynamic of the relationship. That honesty continues on Day 61 Forever. One of my favourite tracks on the project, it was written mostly from the perspective of of his ex, and speaks on the pain of balancing musical ambitions and a personal life.
The album is also accompanied by a 90 second short-film. It depicts Bobandii washing up on a beach, struggling to breathe and unable to take in his surroundings, being hit with flashbacks of himself in a facility with some kind of technology seemingly afflicting his mind. I’ll be honest — I was a little disappointed here. As excellent as the visual is, I was hoping for something around the 10-minute mark, that would tell more of a story to elaborate on the albums concepts. In this case, it’s the other way around.
I do love though that the visual is accompanied by elements of music from my favourite track off the album, Monarch. The production on this track is exquisite. A combination of epic tribal-style drums, light chimes, a vocal choir, and a horn that could’ve come straight outta Inception, it is truly epic. The track is about breaking out of the chains placed on us by societal pressures and norms, and taking an individual path to greatness. It motivates one to jump off into the deep end, to push yourself above-and-beyond what is normal. It’s really the only track on the album that shows outward strength and aggression.
“I don’t wanna live life, I don’t wanna feel safe no more”
Luminescence is for the people inside their own head, or those struggling with relationships — so all of us. It’s an ambitious concept, and you can see in moments throughout that some vocal elements weren’t executed as cleanly as perhaps Bobandii had visualised them. The vocal effects are sometimes overdone, making lyrics difficult to distinguish. However sonically, the album holds together beautifully, and the feels field-trip is clear enough in its tone. I’d highly recommend a listen to Luminescence, and a visit to Bobandii’s Soundcloud page for some more gems.
Listen on Spotify here
