“On Da Beat” makes for a quietly mighty introduction to the artist that is “Blaque Eskimo.” The track presents a delicate and dreamlike soundscape that offers a calming backdrop for the reflective, thoughtful lyricism and performance that rides alongside of it.
Later on you get the full melody, delivered by a smooth and awesome vocal performance, the seductive and incredibly impressive performance – a key factor in making this shine so brightly – and of course, finally, the immense drop; that moment at which the anticipation is met and everything smashes on to the stage to lift you even higher.
The sound of Blaque Eskimos voice and the strongness of the accent makes his words pour through in a calming manner, perfectly in keeping with the mood set by the music. You listen to escape, and it works, though on the other hand – the more you listen, the more those words really start to stand out. There’s a definite level of character to the artist’s sound that quickly becomes unmistakable, but without depth or meaning that can be quickly lost in the noise of the world. In this case, every line, every word chosen seeks to express something heartfelt and deeply considerate.
Right from the start, the soundscape is complex and detailed, laid out before you in an almost theatrical way. Having said that though, something that stands tall early on, and which makes up a huge part of the song’s appeal, is its infectious and central state of rhythm. The first few seconds add to the intrigue, then you get the crisp and vibrant sound of the instruments, and then the melody, and then every little detail – of which there are so many – all of which adds further to this warmth and this brightness that is the nature of the song.
The single has been really well captured, sounding almost like a live performance, but holding close to those studio quality elements that let the sound feel crisp and satisfying. From a songwriting perspective, the melody has the simplicity and familiarity of a classic, resolving at the end of each phrase with additional voices really lighting it all up. The song develops in a fascinating way and actually becomes more and more enjoyable each time that you listen.
