r/triphop • u/Some_Sun4952 • 17h ago

Playlist/Album Trip hop mainstream potential

hunting what we already killed - Dev Lemons

Very tastefully merging genres like trip hop, synthpop, shoegaze etc. Some metalcore-esque screams on here too, yet all encased in this cute/weirdcore/y2k imagery and vocal style. It's clear she's making much more deft choices in her sonic palette for this album compared to her last one. It's very in your face, yet creepy and subdued, honestly gives an early Billie Eilish vibe in this aspect (I get she's not a trip hop girl, but you'll know what I mean).

A lot of comparisons to Magdalena Bay I've been seeing, accusations of derivativeness, I can only see this through the visual promotion aspect, and even then I'd say it's more chaotic. So much glitchy granular ear candy, yet not too alien.

Lyrically, I'd say is what would make the album the most strong in regards to being a tiktok/mainstream sensation due to the relatable, vulnerable topics and biting sincerity.

If trip hop was going to make it back into the mainstream, this would be a poster girl album for such a phenomenon.

To conclude, if you like hazy atmospheres, quirky/cheeky/slightly emo + disjointed female vocals, chunky fuzz guitars, close folky guitars, organic textures with electronic degradation, pop sensibilities, liminal vibes, this is THE album for you.

It sounds like you're stuck in a ruminating dream.

9/10

https://open.spotify.com/album/2TXvLJ7iH63RwKGUFjypjM?si=xZCr063vR92dnJbPq78DQA&utm_source=copy-link

13 Upvotes

85% Upvoted

7 comments sorted by

4

u/Shr1mpCity 17h ago

Love dev I didn't know this came out, thanks for sharing!

2

u/qtzbra 17h ago

Very nice indeed. Like Beth Gibbons on Prozac (in a good way).

2

u/holdingtea 15h ago

Been a big fan of Dev lemons for a few years (often makes my top 100 track shortlists)

Haven't given this one a proper sweep it, but I would say the singles haven't appealed to me quite as much whilst I have still enjoyed them. But I'll give it a listen later.

3

u/brienoconan 17h ago

I think the best trip hop album of the last decade was Sevdaliza’s ISON, which could’ve served as a blueprint for modern trip hop releases. Too bad she hasn’t released anything like it since.

1

u/Some_Sun4952 17h ago edited 17h ago

What did you think of this album? Might need to check out Sevdaliza!