Album Review: Xczircles “Swan Storm” / Aamir “The Quiet After the Storm”

West Coast underground artists Xczircles and Aamir (both in the California group Escape Artists) dropped new albums at the end of 2010 — “Swan Storm” and “The Quiet After the Storm” respectively. The albums were packaged together and released on Ooohh! That’s Heavy Records. The double CD is a follow up to albums that both of them released in 2008 titled “Act of Gosh” and “Underwater Regions“.

Let’s get a little back-story of previous releases for a moment. In 2007, Xczircles dropped an under-the-radar beat tape called, “The Purge“. He’s also done production for many artists, such as Awol One, L*Roneous, 2mex, Ellay Khule, and others. Just this last year, in November, Aamir dropped a free album on No Threshold Records called “Within All This Silence“, as a precursor to “The Quiet After the Storm“. If you missed that, peep it. Also in 2010, the Escape Artists dropped “Coming of Age“. If you’re curious about other releases, I suggest using your search engine and getting familiar.

Now back to this double-cd. Together they feature a long list of dope artists. You’ll find Ellay Khule, 2Mex, Mike Ladd, K-The-I???, Eligh, Gel Roc, Aceyalone, Ceschi, Myka 9, Awol One, Ahmuse, Bigg Jus, and more. Unlike my usual routine of reviewing albums (slash interpreting the tracks), I’m going to approach this one a little differently. Since it’s a double CD, and each has 16 tracks (that’s 32 total!), I’m going to do at least 8 from each. Let’s get to it…

01. EDGE OF MY BED
“Sitting at the edge of the bed, and I’m fed // Up with negative thoughts running straight through my head” Deep, spaced out, piano keys lay down the backbone of the beat. Edison lets the dusty drum hits roll in as the pounding heartbeat, and Xczircles moves in. Listening to him rhyme in this track, I can feel the stress and intense anger built up inside him. Fed up, giving middle fingers to negativity, and anything trying to hold him back. This song grips tightly onto the sheets, letting you know that he’s moving forward, risks and all. Surrounding himself in positivity. You can either follow suit, or get left behind.

03. ATE UP (ft Ellay Khule)
Once again, I’m diggin’ the dusty sound of these tracks. It’s a build up of the cymbal taps, and what sounds like delicate hits on a xylophone (not sure), that merge into hard drums. Then you’re hit with a repetitive dark hook, “Straight up, hold up, wait up, get ate up” x 4. First verse goes to Ellay Khule, and he leaves a trail of blood. Ellay and Xczircles lay out all the weaponry in this one, as they warn you to proceed with caution before approachin’ them. Come at them sideways or underestimate them in any way… they’ll puncture your ego with daggars, then swallow you whole without hesitation. “I predetermine your destiny, death is the recipe.” The song, including Xczircles beat, is hard. They devoured it. One of my favorite tracks, hands down.

04. OBSTACLES
Opra Hashimoto provides a dope beat that’s laced with electronic sounds. Bleeps, swoops, twirls, buttons being pushed and knobs being turned, it all makes me think of scifi flicks. A groaning, cry from a woman creeps alongside the beat, and overall… I’m feelin’ it. It’s a switch up from drum-heavy tracks. The first 4 or 5 listens, I got lost in the beat and my focus was on that rather than listening to the words. So with that said, for what I could focus in on, I don’t think this holds anything abstract. Seems to be a point-blank track about hopping over your obstacles and achieving your goals, but in a catchy, Xczirc’s way. This is one of those tracks where I’d rather just listen (and not dissect into the words or meaning). I think it’s because the beat steals my interest most.

06. WORLD ROUND
Yes! The horn intro of this track, combined with the scratching by DJ Roach, grabbed me. Perhaps groped me in a sensual manner as well. So gooood. Lurking in the background, Xczircles creeps in with a feeling of remorse. “And so it spins, you didn’t see it as a gift // So it slips through your fingers, fall into the pavement // You should’ve savored it // The place was sacred // You held it in your hands, but didn’t craddle it.” We’re all familiar with the saying “Money makes the world go round”. This song examines that a little deeper by saying sometimes people take money for granted — like spending it frivolously. While it may be fun in the beginning, later, when we might need it most, it won’t be there.

07. ONNI (ft Wormhole)
Starts off with some rapping in Japanese from Wormhole. At first I was thinking, “This sounds dope, I wish I could understand it.” And after 25 seconds, he repeats with, “I failed Japanese class…” I laughed, and my curiosity for what he said had increased. He may have switched to English, but the song remains to still be Asia influenced. Wormhole randomly spews out all sorts of Japanese things – bonsai trees, ninjas, katanas, Yokozuna, kimonos, anime, kawaii, Goku, sensais, etc. “All the good games are from Asia // All the good films are from far away” He raps fast, and it’s hard to keep up with what’s being said sometimes, but it’s kind of intriguing. Xczircles appears mid-way. Within his verse, he mentions “they’ll rape your brainstem“… and that’s kind of how I felt. After listening to “Onni” numerous times, I felt mind fucked… confused. Hahaha. I bet that if I played this record in reverse, it’d brainwash me into joining their cult and to do unspeakable acts.

08. SLEEPEASY
Pulling samples from Sage Francis’ “Kiddie Litter” (“Lights flicker on the frame of a light sleeper“) and the Company Flow track “Last Good Sleep” (“Dreamt about nothing for the last time ever“), the song has a gloomy feel. I was also reminded of how long it’s been since I’ve listened to the “Funcrusher Plus” album, or anything Sage Francis. Anyway, “Sleepeasy” briefly takes you away from the other tracks, with its sleepy (in a good way) beat. Shifting into a somber, sleepless territory… fighting for a break from insomnia. “I wander back to the house to snuff my candles out // But upon arrival, I still can’t discount these bouts of weightfulness // In what seems to be, my dream walks aimless-ness // So I stay faithful, trying to remain in balance // Knowing there must be a light at the end of this labrynth // Finally, I find myself at the welcome mat of slumber // Which I creep beneath, allowing the tide to pull me under“.

13. CITY OF LIGHTS REMIX (ft Bigg Jus, 2mex, K-The-I???, Aamir & Geneva B)
Five emcees and a singer up on the track. Each of them shed light, both good and bad, on where they’re from. Speaking about police brutalities, the good weather, the creativity and inspiration within, pollution, poverty, the people, and so on. All over a smooth jazz influenced beat crafted by Xczircles. “No innocence, it’s killjoy // The schools were destroyed // The same day it stopped raining, and the parent troopers were deployed // Now we’re unemployed, you can’t avoid the fat tax // So we filled our nap sacks // And hit the hidden railroad tracks // That’s the reaction, on the run with black thumbs // One hundred miles and duckin, leaving without tractions // Stop and getting blastin, we’re trapped behind glass // So we ran forever, leaving the city in our past”

15. DEMENTIA
“Whenever my levels drop, it’s back to the bottle // Childproof is useless, I was using as a kid // Poppin’ one or two to break through the illusion // Psychosis for amusement, til logic’s gone // The path I travel upon leads to four walls // I walk in full stride, cold sweat in winter time // Hands steady shaking, bleeding from my sinus” Dementia is an illness that deteriorates the brain. This includes impairment of memory, attention span, and judgement. Xczircles explores the illness in the entire song, showing slight concern and worry that he’ll relapse into his past life of drugs (I’m assuming), and that he’ll eventually lose his mind. The song is dark, as it appears to let you into personal experiences. There also seems to be another emcee on board, but it doesn’t say anywhere who it is.

Songs that I didn’t mention: “Just A Ride”, “Toy Video” (ft Mike Ladd) (this track threw me off a little, like a case of whiplash. It’s the first track where Xczircles speaks over the beat. He takes a laid back approach. With the first two listens, I couldn’t get into it, but after a few more, it grew on me), “Correspondence” (ft Ahmuse & Thesis Sahib), “The Product”, “Sketch Artist”, “Heavy Handed”, “We Burn the Same”, and “Golden Dream”.

01. THE BIRTH
A woman’s haunting voice floats like a soul over the rocking beat, provided by Jani5, as she sings a version of a Jewish lullaby called “Raisins and Almonds”. It’s as if she’s mourning the downfall of the night before — the storm. About mid-way through, Aamir steps in. He paints a visual in your mind of a cloudy, abandoned world where the scarred survivors are left alone to pick up the pieces. The birth begins with a destroyed view. “Welcome to the hurt // Here the sadness is deferred // Be careful with your words, just listen to the sounds // Of love, no longer makes the world go ’round, and ’round, and ’round, and ’round // Welcome to my birth // Hear the laughter of the soul // Quench the thirst of the damned and the cursed // For these walls were built to fall down, and down, and down, and down” “The Birth” is the perfect beginning. It carves out a treacherous, somber path for the rest of the album.

02. THE DIFFERENCE (ft GNRS & Flux)
“You can take a little piece of me and let it go // But I’ma stay here just so I can let the children know // That we can make a little difference here in this world // That we can stand all alone and watch it all just explode” The song begins with a foggy, ghostly vibe, that’s soon joined by gentle guitar strings. Then the drum beat drops, and your head nods to the rhythm. “The Difference” displays a glimmer of positive light through the rain. Talking about good change, and being prepared for any other future of pain. Aamir stands tall with the axiom “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” rooted into the lyrics. It’s written like a phoenix that rises from the ashes.

04. THE OWL & THE CROW (ft Eligh)
“The birds are the boss…” Living Legends member Eligh joins forces with Aamir. In this track they each take on the life of birds. Aamir is the owl and Eligh is the crow. Aamir swoops in, telling the story as the wise owl — sitting atop a tree, then “taking flight in the night with a sharp and thunderous cry // I’m the most high, I’m impotent, wisest of them all“. Waiting in silence for the crow to return from his adventures… plotting against the crow, with ways to wound him. The crow, as told by Eligh, is an intelligent bird who roams during the day, flying at great speeds. “When the sun shines on your windowsill, I’ll be disappearing on that note // And reappearing on tracks // Magical, mystical, bird of black” … Ready to protect his territory at all costs. Those two birds are opposites, who seems to always be at war with one another. Creative and easy to grasp. Tells the story of the enemies in a dope way.

07. STUCK IN A MAZE
“Wooooooooooooooooooooooooo!” Is what came from my mouth when the saxaphone snuck in with the electric guitar and piano. Smooooth like buttah. “It’s hard to be seen or heard when you’re shelved at a store // Just collecting dust, poof, another idea gone // So low and behold a story, as it unfolds // We’re all just searching for some hope // Struggling the moment we step through the door // And some of us never return…” I think this song shows the struggle of an individual trying to figure out who they are — maybe as a music artist and/or as a person in general. For example, anyone that puts their talents/crafts (Aamir with his music) out there for the world to see, is being put under scrutiny. Judged by any-and every-one. And sometimes it’s hard to get over some of the things said or written about you or your work. Maybe I’m wrong about the meaning of this track, but that’s how I’m hearing it. With a chorus of, “And I tried so very hard to look within myself // To find myself, but all I found was distress // Just little, tiny pills that help suppress the pain // Walking in circles for days, just stuck in a maze“. This song has an obvious sadness and shows a vulnerable, crumbling person searching for hope, self-identity and self-worth, or to fill a void. “One by one, I saw each little star fall // Lost, tucked away, unable to escape // It’s a sadness to which I erase the pain // Stuck in a muck, I accept the blame // For there’s… still a lot to learn // That one day I will learn to not be afraid // So should I stand by and watch them all pass // But the time will come, we will have to witness the crash // And, still there are a chosen few // Who will do what they can to // You know, just uncover the truth // And as I reach for the stars, I reach for you // And only then did I realize that this world is oh so cruel…”

08. THE QUIET AFTER THE STORM REMIX (ft Flux, GNRS/Generous, Scarub, & DJ Bizkid)
There’s a faint sound of a clock striking the hours in the background, as the beat builds with scratching provided by DJ Bizkid. The sorrowful chorus is the first thing heard: “The skies were unrelenting, and now they’re oh so empty // (Contrast and drastic, the sadness and laughter, time to come to grips in the calm after disaster) // The night was filled with violence, now in its place is silence // (Disfigured and destroyed, what’s left to enjoy, our brain fills the void that was once filled with noise) // It’s time to rebuild and redevelop these buildings // (Dust yourself off, step up from the ruins, life is fragile, that’s what it is to be human) // After the winds die down, and life is upside down // (Haggard and torn, rugged and worn, peace is reborn, the quiet after the storm)” Scarub shares the mic with Aamir as they speak out against the corruption within a nation — its leaders and governments, as well as the war within the streets. Packs a message about the loss of life, the struggle to survive in the aftermath of evil doings, and the courage to break the silence to work towards something great. We are all warriors who must fight for our own peace. “We shouldn’t fear the government, they should fear the people”

09. SANDS OF TIME (ft Ceschi, Cognition, Ellay Khule, Flux, Gel Roc, GNRS, Ivan Ives, Jizzm, Maylay Sage, Riddlore, Trex, & Xczircles)
Talk about a big roster of artists on a track. Each lyricist steps up to the mic, dropping their words on life. “Sands of time” touches heavily on making good use of your time — to find your purpose, to keep pushing, to do what makes you happy, to work towards your dreams and goals, to not procrastinate… because tomorrow isn’t promised. Time passes by us fast. Real solid track, they all come correct and do their part.

11. TOGETHER FOREVER
This is the only track where Aamir sings for the entire song. I dig the content of the song, and it holds beauty and focuses heavily on love. Bizzy also comes through with the cuts and scratches as always. However, there was something that wasn’t doing much for me. I think it’s that he sang the whole way through, and I was thinking that it’d break somewhere. I’m not saying that he’s not an able singer or anything of the sort, I was just expecting something a little different. Maybe if there were more of him singing on the record, this track would mesh more with the album.

13. FEEL THE SUN (ft Bahati & Natalie)
I’m greeted with a mental image of a tropical jungle, with a pond and dragonflies near by. It’s the sounds. And then the strumming of a harp adds more beauty and grace. This is a another turning-of-the-leaf song, as it takes flight to find the good and has a happy, warm quality. Not sure who Natalie or Bahati are, but the delicate singing puts me at ease. And is that French in the first verse? Lovely. Another verse follows (who is this chick?) and it possesses a positive energy, “Still I remain strong and hold on to my disposition // Striving to maintain the radiant beams of light // Or initiate deep conversation, as the illumination buries my sight // Eluded to the action of just giving up the fight // Somehow it seems I only thrive inside the night // Emotionless, I let the forecast take hold of the reigns // As it seems today is a promising day…” Lastly, Aamir brings the track home, “Every flower that grows is a symbol of hope // And anytime you’re feeling afraid or alone // Look to the sun to feel the warmth, to feel the love // To see the doves, to feel the love // And hear the drums, and feel the sun // You and I will be as one, when we feel the sun // When you feel my love and… feel the sun”

16. THE LAUGHTER WITHIN
Last song of the album! Light, almost faded in the background, piano keys begin the track. Seconds later, they’re hidden behind heavy chords and heartbeat-like cymbal taps. A vocal sample weaves its way in, sounding like a young child “… you do something to me.” At that moment, I’m drawn in. “The Laughter Within” dives more into (what I assume are) personal experiences with Aamir and past. Things like struggling with love, being a troubled child, dealing with anxiety, family problems, and insecurities. It explores the inner demons that dwell within him, reminding him of his past. While we may not have experienced same insecurities and problems, I can really relate to this song. Hiding behind a fake smile, saying everything is okay when it’s not. Yeah, yeah, I’m diggin’ it.

Songs I didn’t mention: “Contaminated Energy”, “Reflections”, “Broken Window” (ft Gel Roc & Aceyalone), “No Destination”, “Love Goddess” (ft Myka 9), “Opposite” (ft Awol One & Xczircles), and “Oh So Blue”.

As you can see, both albums have received near perfect reviews from me. There’s a lot of intensity and aggressiveness in Xczircles‘ “Swan Storm” and then there’s melancholy and positive growth weaved within Aamir‘s “The Quiet After the Storm” — both fitting titles. The albums are dope alone, and they become even greater paired up. Incredibly cohesive and a great concept. What I also found interesting was the production. At first, I thought it was handled by 1-3 people total, because they all have that organic, dusty, raw instrumentation sound. It doesn’t stray too much, and there’s a heavy use of drums. Really enjoyed that. But when I looked inside of the album covers, I was proved otherwise. Of course Xczircles was a key role, but others such as Edison, Quaalude Experiment, Last Soul Descendants, Dday One, Timmo, Jani5, Joe Dub, Flux, Efalive, DJ Extend, and others. Every song flows together. “Swan Storm” and “The Quiet After the Storm” have been in heavy rotation for the last week and a half, and not just because I was reviewing it. Superb work. It’s worth buying, for sure, as it’s going to be thrown into my top-albums-of-2010 list. And if anyone asks me for suggestions of who to listen to, I’m definitely (and already have) recommending these two fellas… and this double album.