Cityreal certainly accomplishes all of the above, and his songs are captivating. With help from the Vancouver Film Orchestra and composer Todor Kobakov, he was able to produce something original and often beautiful. Huot also has many guest appearances from stars like Swollen Members, LIINKS, and City vs Soul. Though this EP is packed with stars, at times it can be hard to decipher whether it would have the same vibe if he didn’t have so much other talent as a part of it. That being said, Huot’s rhymes and thought provoking insight has its qualities too. Songs like “Nobody” have a little 90’s hip-hop inspiration, which is oddly fresh. In songs like “Antigraceful” he has a way of telling you something that can be heavy to hear, but nice to listen to.

Cityreal ends the prologue with “Cruisin’ 15” which samples the original Smokey Robinson classic from 1979. It feels like the perfect way to finish off this release because we know the ride is not over. If his album reflects the rest of his work, then we have a lot to look forward to. We also may have some high expectations. Looking forward to cruisin’ on with Cityreal.

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Earlier this year, Cityreal released his first conceptual full-length album Good Morning Blues, in collaboration with a Blues veteran, Wes Mackey. This collaboration resulted in one of the more unique hip-hop albums to come out of Canada in the last few years, but Huot is not planning on taking a break.

During his brief visit to Toronto, we caught up with Cityreal to talk about his upcoming album collaboration with a renowned pianist and string composer, Todor Kobakov.

The post Two minutes with Cityreal: onwards and upwards appeared first on Quip Magazine.

Title track ‘Good Morning Blues’ introduces a well-rounded appreciation of the classics, both hip-hop and blues alike. Building on a chugging rhythmic style, Mackey’s crackling overdrive casts the hooky playing in a warm light. His timing accomplishes the heavy lifting while looking like he’s barely lifted a finger, just off and just right.

“Hell Hound” fleshes out a variant style from Mackey, drawing an obvious connection between his loping melodic style and Kenny Burrel’s. This remains the only truly deviant track, the bulk of the playing borrowing it’s inspiration from Chicago heavy hitters like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf.

Cityreal’s bruised but perseverant lyrical style rides comfortably alongside the blues, allowing up-tempo tracks like ‘It’s Time’ to pull off a notable vein of melancholy. But in the same breath, Mackey handles all the choruses on the record, limiting Cityreal’s contribution to verse lyrics; not that there’s anything implicitly wrong with that, save maybe the risk of feeling formulaic. It’s a record wrought with passion and flecked with real beauty.

Official video for “Passing Me By”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MEBEYiW1mQ

The post Album review: Cityreal & Wes Mackey “Good Morning Blues” appeared first on Quip Magazine.