‘Letters From Tomorrow’ - friendkerrek
This week we review friendkerrek’s ‘Letters From Tomorrow’
friendkerrek has had an impressive career. A founding member of New Orleans underground Hip Hop collective Bag Season Records, he has performed with Beat Cinema, Controllerise, and taken part in Roland’s official 404 Day Celebration (also contributing to Roland’s official 404 mixtape) for two consecutive years. friendkerrek also has a penchant for collaboration, working with the likes of glbl wrmng, Saba and Mick Jenkins. Lauded in such editorials as Okayplayer’s Best Mixtapes of the Year and Bandcamp's Best Beat Tapes column; ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ is his 4th instrumental album, but how does this project build on this beat maker’s spectacular rise?
Ostensively ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ seems, at first glance, a standard beat tape. But take a closer listen and a stunning depth unfolds. Through the listening journey the album’s main theme reveals itself to be the expression of the idea of creative completion. Friendkerrek is making a statement on ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ and it’s beautifully subtle. Through audio clues and vocal samples sprinkled throughout, the listener gets hints to the theme, but it’s never explicitly stated. As the beats build on each other, the listener is subject to the buffeting of creative winds. Each track takes you somewhere else; and it only by giving in to the album do you find the links.
As kerrek himself stated ‘the album is journey through [his] mind and an intimate glimpse into the process of creating an album, staying true to one’s goals, and the struggles that come along with the paths we choose to follow as artists and as people.’
The beauty in this is that thought process can be applied to any art form. Kerrek simply chooses music to express this idea of creative completion. This means that whether you’re a producer, a visual artist, a writer or indeed anyone else the album can resonate. Beat tapes can be a stunning medium for expression but the really special ones weave in a narrative or concept. On ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ friendkerrek does this masterfully. The theme is there to find but never overtly pointed out.
Of course the concept would lose much of its weight if the production didn’t provide enough heft to carry it. Fortunately that is no problem here. The samples are expertly selected. Full of depth and supported by friendkerrek’s intelligent use of synthesis. The samples hold a soulful quality too. Take ‘burning sands’. The tracks starts with a vocal chop that gives way to a slappy, rhythmic piano buttressed by drum fills and strings. Under all this Kerrek applies a subtle use of synthetic effects to give the track an air of grit and electricity.
The melodics on ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ are also incredibly put together. There is a lush, spacey quality that imbues each beat with a sense of calming direction. Filling out the sound on such tracks as ‘new stress’. The electric pianos acts like a floatation here. Drifting across the rhythm whilst the drums punch holes in the melody at opportune, perfectly placed points.
Talking of the drums their importance cannot be overstated here. Friendkerrek has his own indelible groove which he saturates each bump with. The drums not only sound fantastic, with rich tones and interesting mixing, but also absolutely bump. This is Kerrek’s rhythm and we are just along for the ride. ‘spreading knowledge’ is a standout example of this. The lush horn laden sample feels as if it’s being dragged along by the almost 1/4 time drums. The weight of the bounce on this track is astounding. All at once feeling natural and out of this world. The spirit of Kerrek’s groove, is the spirit of ‘Letters From Tomorrow’.
‘Letters From Tomorrow’ is a complex album. At first glance and on a casual listen it simply seems like a collection of beats (albeit unique and heavy ones). The true beauty of ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ comes, however, from the ingenious marriage between concept and production. As friendkerrek walks you through his creative mind, signposting the trials and tribulations but also the triumphs; a tale unfolds that every creative can recognise. This tale is tied together by the production. Both subtle and overt. By taking you on this trip friendkerrek is not only speaking to creatives, but to anyone who has a vision and wants to see it through to conclusion. ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ is a real example of how deep instrumental music can go and how many layers it can have. Take some time out of your day to explore this story with friendkerrek. You won’t be disappointed.
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Purchase ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ here.
Listen to ‘Letters From Tomorrow’ below: