A charmingly nostalgic album, ‘Dichotomy’ takes us back to the golden era of American hip-hop, with a series of old-school sonic nuggets that are a joy to listen to. There’s a bit of everything in it; guided by the expert hands of San Diego-based producer Tranzformer and London-based American producer Big O, the record is rather aptly titled, offering a variety of themes and references that make the listening experience incredibly eclectic and kaleidoscopic.
We are elegantly welcomed by ‘Glass Butterfly’, a slice of soothing G-Funk goodness that’s hard to come by these days. ‘Cali’ follows up with the most soulful, late-80s beat you could think of. It’s so retro that it unironically shifts into vaporwave territories – funny, eh? ‘Trade It All’ finally enters the boom-bap realm with a gloriously uplifting and groovy banger. From here on, it’s a triumph of the same theme, fifteen tracks showcasing the nuanced production work of Tranzformer and Big O.
Working remotely across the pond, the two talented figures appear to complement each other, giving the album different characters, yet an overall cohesive soul – a nostalgic, retro-flavoured one. Delving deeper into the record, Tranzformer and Big O explain: “It showcases both producers’ different, yet similar creative styles to showcase their musical arrangements and love of soul samples.”
Recommended! Discover ‘Dichotomy’ on Spotify:
