Billy Woods & Preservation - Aethiopes
Backwoodz Studioz
Billy Woods, front runner for most consistent artist in the world of music at this point in time, partners with Preservation in what can only be described as a stripped back, bare bones affair. Void of the regular listenable qualities, Aethiopes is like dealing with the truth in its purest form - potentially upsetting, confusing, and unsettling, but ultimately, in the long term, soul soothing.
Aethiopes lives by the principle of 'less is more'. When done right, simplicity wins the day each and every time. The complexities arrive when wrapping your head around the material comes into the equation - how on earth does music this sparse feel so comprehensive? The minimal nature of the atmosphere actually results in a cavernous sensation - transcending space and time itself. The barren, desolate beats leave sufficient space for Wood's philosophical bearings to ferment - his words carry a weight; two tonnes tied around the ankles.
Tip-toeing around essence with an obscure approach and attention to detail, Woods' unique place in the game is captured through abstract diction. Dense verbiage in abstract form is rarely done as well - capturing essence being the single most sought after skill in the artistic world. It's difficult to write about Woods without re-writing something at some stage. His characteristics are hard to define - what makes sense now tends to not make sense not too long later. Summarising something that evades any typical characteristics is a difficult task. Living outside the box, the mind finds it hard to grasp at metaphysical straws.
Preservation perfectly provides dilapidated scenes to match Woods' apocalyptic head space - their partnership is of a special nature. The atmosphere within Aethiopes is otherworldly at times - transcendental, if you will. Transporting your mental to the other side of the tracks, Preservation's backdrops act as a vessel for the seedier side of life - a place where the grass grows darker, deader shades of green. As much as you wish it was different, nothing ever happens 'til it does.
