While I primarily listen to death metal and screamo fully, a third of the music I listen to is actually purely instrumental. Classical, post-rock, drum & bass, jazz, industrial noise, lofi chillhop, and beyond. In all of these many flavors instrumental music is perfect for reading, writing, meditating, snuggling before drifting off into slumberland, or working hard on a project. Basically anytime you want the singular deep focus music provides without distracting vocals and words to latch onto. Several all time favorite instrumental albums that I find myself returning to over and over again include: The Fall of Math by 65daysofstatic, Dawn Metropolis by Anamanaguchi, La Di Da Di by Battles, Bitches Brew by Miles Davis, every single album or soundtrack by Explosions in the Sky, and Cosmic Surgery by Neat Beats.
So beloved is that last release that I came this close to paying triple digit prices for a long out of print vinyl record from the dreaded secondary marketplace of Discogs. *Shudders*. But then a couple of funny things happened in quick succession. On a whim I checked the Bandcamp page for the album and there was a merch tab where previously only the digital had been available. I saw that there had been a repressing made and I don’t think I’ve ever checked out quicker or been more pleased with a purchase. Truly a fortuitous turn of events. Then just a week or so later Neat Beats surprise dropped a new record, their first in almost ten years. I’m not one for fate or attaching providence to happenstance. But sometimes you have to take a moment to appreciate the small ways in which occasionally things come together.
New Cascades starts off strong with “I Forged a Bell with the Emptiness You Left”. The track is engaging and cohesive with a strong drum beat and touches of vocal flourish with just a little bit of hum. It’s the kind of song that would make for a great single and is a suburb representation of what Neat Beats has to offer. Hesitation, bumps, and wobbles. Little glitches like the tape wasn’t spliced together quite right. Abrupt full stops, pitches in tone, and dramatic shifts in rhythm. In a word: wonky.
Neat Beats signature style is perhaps best exemplified on this release by the short but sweet track “Coffee Table After You Leave”. Several disjointed elements are chopped and screwed together, not so much woven as grinding against one another. Almost as soon as the drum trill hits at the midpoint completing the ensemble the drums leave and the track abruptly ends. A recurrence that pops up a few times throughout this collection of songs. The cord severed suddenly like a track skipped or an idea abandoned. When it happened for the first time at the end of “You Want to Like Yourself” I found it quite jarring, but on repeated listens I’ve found it became more endearing.
New Cascades is less an album and more a series of vignettes or a shuffling of visions. Which Neat Beats themselves alluded to in a brief Insta post upon its surprise release. ‘This record is a collection of work from the last five years or so. Usually when I release something, I have a sort of theme or story in mind, but this is a comparatively disjointed work, and it’s also the most emotional thing I’ve released.’
The several threeish minute tracks “Three of Mirrors Reversed”, “When I am Not Distracting Myself”, “Mixolydian”, and “Love and Passion” form the core of this release beyond the standout intro track and decompression farewell of “Artifact”. If “Coffee Table” is the perfect example of Neat Beats‘ wonky side, then “The Love and Passion of a Very Few People” is similarly a showcase of Neat Beats ability to use vocal cuts and spoken word samples as the vehicle to drive a song forward while telling a story. Few other artists possess this level of sonic narrative.
If there is a living spiritual successor to Nujabes, torch bearer for J Dilla, and the instrumental work of MF DOOM especially on Special Herbs, it is Neat Beats. That is a bold claim. Just making the comparison speaks volumes. Especially given the highly regarded legacy of these artists’ work standing near monolithic as the de facto kings of instrumental hip hop. They went farther into rap, jazz, and soul directions, but I truly feel the argument holds. In terms of quality, attention to detail, and display of original character Neat Beats is absolutely at the helm. In a league of their own Neat Beats are smoothly sailing, with us along for the ride, bound for seas unknown.
“Artifact”, the longest diversion and penultimate track before the outroish “Fall/Winter”, has a buildup that is quite atypical within Neat Beats’ oeuvre. Usually more of a hook based drum focused affair this song instead delves into a hazy ambient noise soundscape. A bit of piano and wind instruments join the fuzz carrying the track towards its conclusion. Creativity is sometimes found not in addition but by restriction. There is nary the beat of a drum on “Artifact” and yet there is still an expression here that maintains Neat Beats sense of curiosity and playfulness.
The substance of New Cascades is carried by the meaty lengthier tracks, but some of my favorite moments are the brief flashes of songs just under and just over a minute long. I honestly have no idea what to make of this thing, but it definitely had an impact. And I guess that’s the point. Art can be striking beyond description wrapping you up with feelings ineffable. So while New Cascades may not be the instant classic cohesive vision that Cosmic Surgery was, it remains a heartfelt collection of vivid moments that leave their mark as they stay with you.
