5 years ago Bro Safari & UFO! unleashed their groundbreaking Animal LP. It’s a monster project that fused a multitude of genres and wild sound design into a dark and impressive body of work. It helped show the world trap could be multidimensional and showcased just how innovative Bro Safari & UFO! truly were. But that was 5 years ago. Do the two producers still have what it takes to push boundaries in bass music? 5 years is an eternity in electronic music and much has changed. With expectations high for their comeback, the two veterans prove they are still at the forefront of music with Clockwork.
The 8 track offering isn’t so much an album as it is a sci-fi epic. From the moment you press play, you’re brought back to the same animalistic uneasiness you experienced with Animal. ‘N.U.M.B.’ begins as an eerie hunt and soon morphs into a full on feeding frenzy under a bright blood moon. ‘Inaccessible’ takes listeners “deeper into the jungle” for an even more ravenous offering. Trees are parted to give sight to an ancient civilization that’s possessed by the fire’s burning energy. It’s an uninhibited rave on ayahuasca and ‘Breaking The Curse’ is coming face to face with any demons and wrestling them to the death.
‘ET Finger’ presents a new chapter and direction. We’re transported from the depths of the jungle to the expanse of the universe. It’s a fast-paced progression through blackholes, space stations, solar storms and haunting spirits. ‘WAMF’ doubles down on the intensity for a maddening mélange of sounds that embody 90’s hip-hop and brutal space bass. The madness doesn’t last forever as the track mellows, allowing a drift into ‘Osangala’. Like landing on a ominous, yet stunningly beautiful planet, the track is serene and unsettling. There’s a foreign allure that pulls like gravity back on earth, but you can’t quite settle in.
As we near the end of the journey ‘Mortar’ presents a melancholy tapestry that’s less exciting then the previous chapters but also less chaotic. Capping off the adventure is the title track. ‘Clockwork’ is dripping with nostalgia. It feels like everything that is 80’s sci-fi, rolled into an audio experience. It’s neon lights, flying cars, rocket ships. It’s imagining the future in a way that doesn’t exists anymore. It possesses a youthful curiosity and wonderment, presenting a perfect palate cleanser for the dark and tumultuous journey you just endured. Strap yourself in and experience it all for yourself below.
