Jai Bartlett is from Wellington, where he creates his "Alternative Hip-Hop", a description that immediately had me interested. He describes his debut album Echoes as "diverse", and I had the pleasure of discovering what an understatement that is. Jai cites Kendrick Lamar and Elsy Wameyo as his idols, and lists Classical, Jazz, Indian Classical, and Trap as sounds he explored on the album, which also sorely understates the broad musical range on offer.

Opener Wake has a haunting start that sounds like a perfect blend of voice and flute, leading into a spoken introduction before the main hook kicks in, with a killer bassline under the vocals. Then it opens up again to gorgeous big choral voices, before the percussion and bass join again under the hook, with a short, brooding ending. An excellent groove in a short but impactful song, with a vocal performance by Amelie Cowell. I'm already intrigued to hear the rest of the album, because this is right up my alley. A grimy, discomfiting atmosphere pervades Crowded, which speaks of feeling overwhelmed and "Crowded", an all too relatable perspective, "my mind so loud it can't breathe" painting a very vivid picture. Tyron Panashe Jacques Oldroyd features on backing vocals.

Another fantastic bassline underpins Lies!, suitably deep and dirty for a song about deception and back-stabbing, false fronts and forked tongues. A song that makes no bones about its message. Alone has a speech on the importance of human interconnectedness by Simi Desor over David Simon's soft, mellow piano line, which blooms into a sweet-sounding song with plaintive and heartfelt lyrics, also featuring Michael Bredenhann on guitar. Vivaldi-like strings buoyant and sweet, are swiftly juxtaposed with the righteously angry anti-colonization message of Colonised, the overall feel then becoming low and dark, hints of the strings then appearing sporadically in the background. Guitar is provided by Michael Bredenhann again, and Miko Schwenke appears on vocals, along with samples of dialogue discoursing on colonialism, which brings the song to a more settled ending.

Ignorance is an introspective song, looking honestly at a relationship that has its troubles and trials, but also a deep amount of love. A thought-provoking conversation plays over the conclusion, the whole song having a reflective and thoughtful vibe. There are two distinct halves to 24:7 Dreaming, which boasts vocals from both Zavien and Prince, and they have very different moods. The first half is a grim look at life in the capitalist world we live and work in, with appropriately sinister musical accompaniment, while the second half is opposite in every way, from its joyous feel, to its messages of courage and hope.

Love U Mum is exactly as the name suggests, an unashamed declaration of love to one's mother, with all of the regal air, grace, and dignity that should accompany such a gesture. Jai opens his heart here, and honours his mother beautifully, aided by the vocal talents of Lucia Tully, Michael Bredenhann on guitar, and a speech from Simi Desor. Title track Echoes opens with a speakeasy piano bar feel, with some matching vocals, but that quickly morphs into a backing for Jai's masterful lyrical flow. The middle section has a filthy, fuzz-drenched guitar solo, and the two earlier sections of the song bookend again, before the advent of some reversed vocals towards the end.

This is a superbly strong debut. Jai is not just a songwriter, but a true craftsman, presenting here a collection of work that begs for repeated listens. I have no doubt that this album will supercharge the trajectory of his career.

• 1
  Outside In
• 2
  Horror Story
• 3
  Fraser Ross
• 4
  Head Like A Hole
• 5
  Fur Patrol
• 6
  Michelle Rounds
• 7
  L.A.B.
• 8
  The Boondocks
• 9
  Late to Chelsea
• 10
  Us As Robots

• 
  Mel Parsons @ Globe Theatre, Palmerston North - 19/09/2024
• 
  Troy Kingi @ The Loons, Lyttelton - 14/09/2024
• 
  S.E.I.S.M.I.C @ The Loons, Lyttelton - 14/09/2024
• 
  Marlin's Dreaming @ TSB Showplace, New Plymouth - 13/09/2024

• 1
  DIE WITH A SMILE
  Lady Gaga And Bruno Mars
• 2
  TASTE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 3
  BIRDS OF A FEATHER
  Billie Eilish
• 4
  ESPRESSO
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 5
  PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
  Sabrina Carpenter
• 6
  A BAR SONG (TIPSY)
  Shaboozey
• 7
  LOSE CONTROL
  Teddy Swims
• 8
  GOOD LUCK, BABE!
  Chappell Roan
• 9
  TOO SWEET
  Hozier
• 10
  BED CHEM
  Sabrina Carpenter

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