New Music – The Killer Quartet

BADBADNOTGOOD defines what it means to be the revolving door in music, they can transfer over from so many different genres while keeping fresh and consistent in sound quality. Number IV is not distant from this formula as it keeps a fresh take on the dependable sound of BADBADNOTGOOD, while using some new ideas to branch out the tracks that only become better and better though each listen.

The layered quality of each song really adds to the depth of IV. Each track has so many variables that spread out each sound and make every song feel like an experience. Coming from III and Sour Soul, it is incredible just to hear how BBNG has progressed even within the last year and as the band continues to grow, so does their sound. III materialized as more than just as an album as the actual sound of the record seemed to be its own entity. I really loved the production work on III, and BBNG only seems to become better and better with each release.

IV combines all the elements of their previously released content, as each song has a bit of each album release under it wing to support the base. A song like “Lavender” which has a feature from Kaytranada who helps out on the percussion and the CS-60, have more of a hip-hop or rap vibe. The CS-60 gives the track those low, crunchy sounding synths and Kaytranada seems to be everywhere with influences and appearances through BBNG’s career.

Other songs like “IV” and “Chompy’s Paradise” have a Jazzier influence as “IV” is a sprint of a song, creating a blast of saxophone wails and quick drums beats. On the other hand, “Chompy’s Paradise” is a smoother, Jazz club sounding track with melodic synths adding to the area of the song, the saxophone solo and the soft piano keys steal the song away as they sound so perfect together and the whole track is excellent from start to finish.

While BBNG is a primarily instrumental band, they do bring in some friends to complete some vocalization on some of their songs and it was a nice addition to the traditional instrumental work. I still love the instrumental works on IV, but the song “Time Moves Slow” is one of the best songs of BADBADNOTGOOD’s discography to date. It just has such exceptional instrumentation and the lyrics from Sam Herring seem to be so personal that they almost hurt to say out loud.  “Loving you was easy, it was you leaving that scarred,” I just loved this song from start to finish and it might be my personal favorite on all of IV.

IV sounds more experimental than its predecessors, but that adds charm and the fun of listening to this record. It provides a new experience and BBNG did a great job on the collaborations to bring vocalization and some different talent onto IV. I would just love to witness the studio sessions where they recorded some of these parts and made the songs into what they are now.

IV is the perfect album for going on a midnight drive as the songs vary from blazing fast jazz, slowed down soft-spoken songs, to the then thumping 808 and synth using beat style. BBNG keeps some tricks up their sleeves and while I will not spoil the album. IV is a welcome addition to the BBNG name and as their releases continue to get better and better, I can only imagine what will happen when we see the release of V. As their Bandcamp page states “IV continues their forward thinking progression, sounding something like a jam session in space between Can, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters, Weather Report, Arthur Russell & MF DOOM.” I couldn’t agree any more with this statement and IV not only brings genres together, but it breaks barriers down.