Nix Northwest marries production savvy with a mesmerising vocal on Xin’s Disappearance
"Xin’s Disappearance"
Nix Northwest makes the type of music that lives or dies by the production. He’s an artist of mood, of setting. If the beats are the painting, his words are the frame.
It’s a great painting, though. Xin’s Disappearance is entirely produced by its creator; the sound is cohesive and consistent, with a laid-back, sunny feel to virtually every track. The drums are easy on the ears, the instrumentals regularly ornamented with saxophone, strings, and soft keys. Most of the tracks are driven by smooth guitar riffs, such as on “The Occasional L” and “Keep On Running.” Some of the beats where guitar takes a back seat, though, turn out the strongest on the record, such as “One Way Ticket.”
Xin’s Disappearance is easy-listening done with a uniqueness and swagger. Northwest's tracks are full of textures, ornaments, background singing and hums. There’s nothing boring about Xin’s Disappearance, a respectable feat for a 53-minute record with just a single feature. In spite of its character, though, there’s also not quite anything that leaves a strong impression on the mind by the end of the record, either.
Any great painting deserves a great frame, and Northwest provides this – but not quite with the same ease as he crafts the beats on the record. Nonetheless, the lyrics add a separate thematic layer underneath the easy-listening of the music; “It ain’t easy not to stray when you’re surrounded by the wicked,” he says in “Problems.” In the hook of the same track, Northwest adds: “I know I said I didn’t need it / but look at where the hell I’m at now / Maybe I didn’t want the trouble / Of more money more problems.”
ENNY breaks up Northwest’s singular presence on “You Ain’t Got a Chance Boy,” near the end of the record. Having previously collaborated through The Silhouettes Project (on “For South”), Northwest and ENNY showcase a great, natural chemistry. It’s one of the most energy-filled tracks on Xin’s Disappearance, and one of the points on the record where Northwest’s versatility as a producer really shines. ENNY's personal swagger and lyrical prowess pull the track to new levels, though the pair’s back-and-forth bars are what really bring the heat.
Nix Northwest undoubtedly is a producer at heart. On Xin’s Disappearance, though, he more than proves that he has the talent and charisma of an MC, too.
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