The new self-titled album from CYRRCA uses rap as a piece of a larger project. While it's the primary method of vocal delivery here, the rest of the music spans multiple genres. As a result of this mixing of forms, CYRRCA has a wide-ranging appeal, and a broad-minded idea of what indie music can still be.
Based upon the artist's world travels, the tunes here serve as a soundtrack for journeys real and imagined, and those barely remembered. "Beograd" is contemplative, while "Namsan" uses Asian flavors to anchor the heavy, deliberate beat. Elsewhere, "Apocalypse Tao" and "Free" expertly blend rhythms that pop and punch with lyrical flows that convey sights and experiences CYRRCA needs to pin down in words. The whole thing has a real energy to it, as if he's rapping before the memories fade away. And while some of this, like the sharp "Pyrrhic Victories", and simple "Still Thankful" work well on their own, the entire record feels like a trip taken, and a sort of experiment in how to use hip hop with ambient textures to create a soundtrack for the soul.
CYRRCA is out on Friday.
[Photo: Jayce Castrell]