Zeroh - 'BLQLYTE' (2020)

I can't even get my head together to process this record yet. But it needs to be heard (with headphones, lights off, full attention):

https://horez.bandcamp.com/album/blqlyte

https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2265528509_16.jpg

I liked what I'd heard of his before. But it did not prepare me for this. First thought is it's the sound of making planets. It's one of the most 3D productions I've ever heard. No "experimental" hip-hop I've heard sounds as purposefully crafted as this. I'm certain it will not be to most tastes, but to those it hits--wow.

I know there are people here who would love this...

I'm just starting to listen, it sounds great so far. "3D production" is on point.

I really enjoyed listening to this yesterday, call me an old duffer but I got a Byzar, DJ Spooky, Erissoma vibe from it.

This continues to astound me. But I can only listen to it A) late at night B) with headphones C) with no distractions. I just don't even think it would make sense at all otherwise--it's all about the details and the sum total. The opposite of a casual listen, yet I don't find it "difficult" in any way (though some might).

Thanks for this thread! This is sounding fantastic!

If this doesn't make a lot of year-end lists, especially in a year as fucked up and in need of this sound, I'll be pretty disappointed.

It'll definitely be on mine - thanks so much for introducing me to it.

Yeah I see this being high on my ballot

This album still completely scrambles my brain every listen. Just amazing. Hope people will catch on as this endless year goes by--I don't know of anything that feels more right for the time (in a good way).

Also, highly recommend buying on Bandcamp so you can get the FLAC--no album I can think of in recent years more deserves to be heard with every bit of detail possible.

It's similarly trippy if not quite the lovingly detailed sondworld of BLQLYTE but I think you might get a lot of mileage from Killah Priest's Rocket to Nebula as another great abstract/avant hip hop release from this year (much thx to dleone for the headsup)

Mentioned it on the shotta flows thread, and am in full agreement with you.

abut halfway through BLQYTE - it's probably a little too Stygian for me tbh but pretty cool

This remains my AOTY, with Sault's 'Untitled (Rise)' as its counterpoint. Both capture 2020, the chaos and the hope. At 3:20am (which it is now, on a sleepless night after more catastrophic news...) no music makes more sense to me than 'BLQLYTE'. Still have never heard anything like it.