Refreshing new sounds from Richmond’s Ohbliv, a beatmaker that invites ears into warm, analog headtrips. Each track on the new Outsider Soul is friendly but detached. Something distant, but attainable, like the title of the lead off track (“build utopias”) suggests. Samples are treated with a deft, loving hand, especially on favorites “shine in the glory” and the chilling “whistling well.” Analog, patient beats like this are such a nice surprise, especially with the busy business ravaging the blogs. Ohbliv manages to suck listeners into each track while also giving plenty of room to breathe. Outsider Soul is pure and simple, positive without the cheese, and perfectly content to sit in its own corner of the internet, friendly to any that check in.
“DSM” showcases the many individual styles of Brockton’s Van Buren Records
It has been a fruitful 18 months for the Brockton super-collective Van Buren Records. Their two 2021 records, Bad For Press and Black Wall…