Barely Alive have established themselves as one of the most prominent names in bass music over the last half-decade. Having a knack for creating festival hits, the duo have found a way to bring heavy sounds to the main stage with tracks such as ‘CA$H’ and their ‘4 Barz of Fury’ remix constantly being played out in bass sets across the world over a year after their release. Their 2015 album We Are Barely Alive propelled their career to where it is now, but the quality and quantity of singles, remixes, and collaborations since then have pushed them to be considered among the bass legends.
Today saw the release of their highly anticipated sophomore album Odyssey, and boy was it ever worth the wait. If you had been following the releases of the singles leading up to today, you probably felt like us and had no idea what to expect from the full project. ‘Deeper In Love’ and ‘Buddy’ displayed a funky, Chromeo-esque side to the producers that we had never heard before, while ‘New Coupe: Ride Out’ showcased their ability to handle rap vocals and create a grimey hip-hop beat that perfectly complements the Iamsu! verses. However, that’s not all when it comes to the legendary producers’ versatility.
Along with the album’s title track, ‘Shutdown’, ‘Know About Me’ and ‘Bad Thang’ which incorporate the classic Barely Alive synths that fans have grown to love over the years, the bass aficionados explored other realms of heaviness. Tracks such as ‘Warrior’ dwell into the depths of DnB in a style that is reminiscent of Dirtyphonics, while ‘Wompum’ will emerge the riddim beast inside you and make you headbang until your neck falls off, before taking a complete one-eighty into a gnarly trap drop.
Barely Alive’s ability to explore almost every genre of electronic music and to incorporate them into one cohesive project is unparalleled. Each track is worthy of multiple listens from start to finish to truly appreciate these multi-talented musicians, and you’re bound to find at least one track you’ll want to add to your favourite playlist. Stream the full album below and let us know what you think!
