Australian rap artist Phrase has used the time to find a new sound and a new attitude.
Clockwork is a new chapter for Phrase. More than three years after the release of his debut album Talk with Force, the Melbourne-based rapper is looking to make a fresh start with a record that marks a significant stylistic departure from his earlier work.
Musically, Clockwork is a melting pot of hip-hop, funk, rock, and even folk. Fans of the Roots will delight in the use of live instrumentation on this album. The guys in the rhythm section hold down some solid grooves and show good versatility across all the tracks, which cover everything from club bangers to ballads.
This diversity has attracted a broad range of collaborators. The chorus of Wendy Matthews’ hit song The Day You Went Away beautifully compliments Phrase’s lament in his track of the same name. Harry Angus of Jackson and Jackson joins Phrase on Paradise, a tale of hedonistic excess with a haunting falsetto hook and bright brass section. Other guests include Kram, Daniel Merriweather, and Bliss N Eso.
Phrase’s introspective approach to lyrics prevails throughout the record, and personal struggles and challenges abound. He tackles the ups and downs of his career, relationship problems, and the loss of a close friend, yet manages to balance this with a positive outlook for the future.
Phrase has made a bold attempt to push himself, and his genre, into new territory. There is the potential for any number of these songs to make a big splash beyond the usual Oz hip-hop audiences, largely due to the diversity of tunes and solid production throughout. It’s a new take on an ever-growing movement, and well worth a listen.
