There’s an fascinating spoken phrase phenomenon within the UK that many stateside punters is probably not conscious of; a mix of the basic, stream of consciousness-style poetry and conventional hip hop-style rap that’s been fairly standard in Blighty however by no means had a lot of a toehold in North America. Except for the TikTok well-known Louis Theroux jape, “My cash don’t jiggle; it folds,” there actually aren’t too many trendy examples of this mashup on both facet of the pond, but it surely was fairly standard within the 90s and 00s. For reference, suppose Nada Surf’s “Well-liked” or, seemingly probably the most well-known instance, Blur’s “Parklife,” which options actor Phil Daniels on the spoken phrase lyrics. Only a few, nevertheless, have turned this type of poetry right into a full musical id. Enter Faron Sage.
Someplace on the nook of “Park Life” Gorillaz is definitely the place one can discover Faron Sage. Created as an animated character whose cheeky persona mitigates the hard-hitting political lyrics to be present in almost each monitor launched, the mission has gained a loyal following on YouTube, each for its anarchic but plain-speaking model and its stark visualizers. Ranging from, not surprisingly, 2020, the mission started releasing jazz fusion-forward tracks with an aggressive spoken phrase verse over prime. The Zappa-esque music works nicely with the chaotic meter of the lyrics, however deliberately does nothing to easy them out. That is Audio system’ Nook in digital type: loud, brash and meant to trigger a stir.
“No Different” is the most recent launch from Faron Sage and, in typical trend, it pulls no punches. Lashed to a jazzy bassline with comparatively minimal music, surrounding, the cartoon character is instantly off on a tear as quickly because the monitor begins, discussing all of the political ills of the trendy world. The “refrain,” because it had been, is the conclusion of the primary verse that there’s “No Different” to the present mess the world is in. What’s stunning, nevertheless, is the subsequent verse turns it round and gives another. It comes with essential considering on an enormous scale and thus the choice presents as fairly utopian, which is uncommon in these occasions, but it surely’s good to see Mr. Sage isn’t all doom and gloom. There may be another: social evolution, and it’s doable.
Closing third of “No Different” has a musical break of fairly cartoonish nature, which not solely fuels the call-and-response argument of the monitor but additionally works fairly nicely with the animated video. Accomplished in a whimsical, Nineteen Sixties publish trendy advert model, the video for “No Different” is extra narrative and fewer visualizer in comparison with different Faron Sage movies like “Standing Quo” and “Entire.” It additionally options extra talking characters than normal, as movies like “Wake Up the World” and “Head or Tail,” which solely characteristic the mission’s primary character, the additionally 60s-stylized Faron Sage. Because it’s an argument inside a track, it make sense to have a story fairly than a monologue. The animation itself is a giant a part of Faron Sage and it actually helps to drive the purpose of “No Different” house.
Fame will not be one thing that considerations the creators of Faron Sage, and that’s evident in the way in which the music and movies are introduced, so followers of this model shouldn’t take this mission as a herald of a brand new spoken phrase development. What mentioned creators hope, nevertheless, is that their work is catchy and thought-provoking sufficient to get folks to vary their thoughts and notice that we’re not, in actual fact, doomed to remain caught within the present system. There may be by no means “No Different;” in actual fact, options abound. We simply need to imagine in them.
“No Different” is out now and out there to stream on Spotify. Take a look at Faron Sage’s YouTube for extra of those thought-provoking movies.
