Nathaniel Clark – A&E Editor

nuc5002@psu.edu 

Photo Credit: Hendrik Schneider/YEAR0001

On September 30, Swedish musician Bladee, real name Benjamin Reichwald, released his seventh studio record “Spiderr” on all streaming platforms. The release of this album comes less than seven months after his previous release “Crest,” a collaborative effort with fellow Drain Gang/YEAR0001 artist Ecco2k that was released in March of this year. Having also reviewed that album for the Beacon, I was intrigued about whether or not “Spiderr” would follow down the path laid by “Crest.” Upon listening, I can definitively say that is not the case, but Bladee still crafts another fantastic project. 

Moving away from the synth-pop of “Crest,” “Spiderr” has Bladee returning to the experimental and ethereal hip-hop lane he and the rest of Drain Gang have become known for. Coming along in his return to form is overarching producer Whitearmor. With the long history that these two musicians have, it is no surprise that this album has some of Bladee’s best production yet. 

An overwhelming sense of ease radiates from “Spiderr.” Bladee has been making music since 2013 yet it feels like he just recently found his musical footing. This does not mean that this new record carries repetition though. Along with the previously-mentioned production comes an overwhelming feeling of experimentation in the realm of vocal and lyrical ability. While there certainly are tracks like “ICARUS 3REESTYLE” which are great pieces of classic Bladee material, “Spiderr” shines whenever he and Whitearmor push the dial on whatever is musically possible from their partnership.

The album’s opening track is a clear example of this experimental execution. “UNDERSTATEMENT” opens in standard Drain Gang style but then is quickly joined by these electronic and 8-bit soundscapes. These additions push the song to sound much more reminiscent of drill music, a rap subgenre that has been blowing up in the US and UK recently due to artists such as Pop Smoke and Skepta. After this explosive introduction, a quiet interlude leads into “I AM SLOWLY BUT SURELY LOSING HOPE.” A massive left turn, the sounds of altered drums, and pitched guitars envelop Bladee’s glitched vocals, crafting an absolute wall of sound that only stops moving when the track concludes. 

Moving away from the loud towards the calmer is “BLUE ANGEL CRUSH.” Bladee’s lyrics detail a story of lost love as Whitearmor’s production takes on a considerably spare pace with the drum machine and synth feeling relatively disconnected. “DiSASTER PRELUDE” acts as a small “Crest” reunion as Bladee is rejoined by Ecco2k. The two artists once again show that they are an excellent pairing as their verses meld together perfectly. 

Suddenly, the album takes a left turn as Bladee and Whitearmor go crazy on “HAHAH.” A burst of menacing and frightening laughter makes up the chorus while Bladee continually reiterates that he is either “crazy” or “doing great.” In a manner, it feels like Bladee was still affected by the emotional catharsis seen on “HAHAH” while recording the album’s main single “DRAIN STORY.” A small interlude type, it feels like Bladee is just spitballing on the song. 

“Spiderr” takes a turn towards the slower side by the end of the record. The final two songs, “She’s Always Dancing” and “URIEL OUTRO,” are drastically different when compared to everything that came before it. Rather than a rapping style, Bladee’s vocals are more similar to balladry as Whitearmor’s production becomes more ambient. The album’s final seconds are closed by a singular synth line, a far cry from where the album had begun.

While Bladee has been around for almost a decade, “Spiderr” feels like he is showing that he has more to offer. It is evident that with Whitearmor’s assistance, these musicians can push the envelope and craft a record better than anything either of them has done before. I thought Bladee had peaked with “Crest” earlier this year, but now I am unsure of what to expect. All that I can say is I am still following his musical and artistic journey.