Description
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Coby Sey takes us on an unexpected journey with his debut album, defying expectations and surpassing what we thought was possible. This shapeshifting masterpiece is a mesmerizing blend of trip-hop, electronic beats, grime influences, poetic lyrics, and gritty techno. It’s an album that captures our attention and leaves us craving more, making it one of the most memorable releases of the year.
For years, trip-hop has been inching its way back into the limelight, thanks to artists like Space Afrika, Dis Fig, and Dawuna. These musicians effortlessly combine the hazy aesthetic of the 90s with a contemporary and druggy vibe. Coby Sey has been navigating this artistic landscape for some time now, collaborating with talented peers such as Tirzah, Dean Blunt, Lol K, and Mica Levi. This continuous collaboration has allowed Sey to develop his own unique vision gradually, leading to the creation of ‘Conduit’, a debut album that feels incredibly mature and layered.
Right from the opening moments of ‘Etym’, Sey repeats the phrase “Marking the past.” With this album, he aims to continue the musical lineage while avoiding repetition. ‘Conduit’ may not fit the traditional mold of a trip-hop album, but it undoubtedly inherits the spirit and aesthetic of Tricky’s underrated 1996 masterpiece, “Pre-Millennium Tension.” Like Tricky’s groundbreaking album, ‘Conduit’ captures the unsettling essence of a confusing era. It reflects the suffocating mood of isolation, depression, and future shock that permeates contemporary British society. It’s a testament to Sey’s musical prowess that he can evoke such powerful emotions through a blend of dissonant synths, moody electronics, and surrealist poetry.
‘Permeated Secrets’ serves as a prime example of Sey’s ability to convey deep meaning within his music. A captivating bassline anchors Sey’s haunting vocals, as he declares, “I don’t care if you like my work.” The track seamlessly transitions between sedate rhythms and sci-fi dub influences, creating a mesmerizing auditory experience. Sey’s music stands in stark contrast to the diluted trip-hop that emerged in the late 1990s, stripped of its raw energy in favor of commercial appeal. Instead, Sey injects his sound with elements that resist misinterpretation, ensuring that his artistic expression remains genuine and potent.
The album’s standout moments include ‘Night Ride,’ a gritty industrial track that combines wordless vocal utterances with pulsating basement techno beats, and ‘Response,’ which features impressive contributions from horn players Ben Vince and CJ Calderwood, and guitarist Biu Rainey. This track effortlessly weaves together Space Echo jazz loops, atmospheric strings, and medieval recorder trills, before culminating in an evocative spoken word finale.
As the album concludes with ‘Eve (Anwummerɛ)’, Sey provides a much-needed moment of reflection. The track invites contemplation as reverberating electric piano melodies intertwine with field recordings and ethereal choral fragments. It’s the perfect ending to an album that will undoubtedly leave listeners unpacking its layers for the rest of the year.
Coby Sey has crafted an artistic statement that is robust, enigmatic, literary, intricate, and occasionally absurd, all while remaining immensely rewarding. If trip-hop is going to continue evolving from this point, it may necessitate the birth of a new genre name. With ‘Conduit’, Sey propels trip-hop into bold new territory, allowing the genre to flourish once again.
