Spoons EP is the new collaborative EP from producer/DJ Shy One, who is one of the most respected musicians in the scene right now and Kwam, a poet and lyricist from London who is also doing bits in the scene. Recorded in one day after a meeting in an East London Wetherspoons, the six-track project brings out the best of their talents, as Shy One produces some thumping, synth-heavy beats to complement Kwam’s introspective lyricism about life in London and social issues at a large.
The colourful, jittery production on “Power” is complemented by an aggressive and confident delivery from Kwam, who sets the scene with his wordplay and lyricism. “Let Us”features bass-heavy production, with Kwam spitting “We can do so much but they don’t get us,” with an brutally honest account of black lives in the UK, really bringing to light the fact that there is “no justice, no peace, no fuckeries, no grief, we’re sucked in so deep, don’t trust it, don’t sleep.” It is one highlight of the tape for me because it brings the issues to light in such a powerful way that it really stays with you throughout the record. This theme is echoed profoundly on “The Raid,” and the production on the rest of the record is incredible, with jazzy vibes on “Spoons” and a garage vibe on “Freestyle” to end the project with a bang.
What Shy One and Kwam do so well on this record is take the diversity in sound that London has to offer and mesh it beautifully in a raw, honest and profound piece of music. It’s one of the better EPs I have heard in a while, and it just drives so much excitement to the scene here.
You can listen to Shy One and Kwam’s new EP Spoons below via Bandcamp, and don’t forget to support! Released via Astral Black.
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