Children of Zeus don't reinvent the wheel on Travel Light, but it's an engaging ride

The journey of the Manchester duo has been an arduous one. Throughout their individual careers, Konny Kon and Tyler Daley have been plagued by setbacks, heartbreak, and glimmers of hope. Rather than hiding the cracks that have unwillingly formed, Children Of Zeus show their scars as evidence of what they have been through, and where they are destined to be.

Travel Light is an ode to the soul food sounds that Kon and Daley grew up listening to from a young age. Drenched in low-slung, summer-ready rhythms, their impressive debut draws heavily from the classic hip hop sound of the mid-nineties, but with an edge that could only be sharpened by decades of refinement.

Opening with the defiant “Story So Far”, the pair use the introduction as a chance to face their demons and start afresh. The past may lay heavy on their minds, but Travel Light is filled with humour, honesty, and self-realisation – with Kon himself admitting:

“Tyler hasn’t checked his emails in six weeks/but without T there’s no females just tramps in big jeans”

Without this contrast between Daley’s unparalleled vocals and Kon’s fractured bravado, Children Of Zeus would never work. This sense of loyalty is a common theme throughout Travel Light. Not only are they loyal to each other, but they remain loyal to the music they love, and the people they believe in – shining the light on fellow Mancunians [ K S R ] and LayFullStop, as well as the undeniable talents of DRS and Terri Walker.

In terms of hip hop, Travel Light doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, but it has definitely made the ride a whole lot smoother.