Cassette Review: Tomas Vaughmpiro "COLD WAVY"

[$6 // Edition of 3 // https://tomasvaughmpiro.bandcamp.com/album/cold-wavy]

On the surface, as this cassette by Tomas Vaughmpiro appears like it will be something in the vaporwave genre, just because of the use of characters in place of letters.    What you will find when listening to these songs though is a refreshing take on hip hop.    And, yes, this name does make me think of the wrestler Vampiro and all that comes with him, but let's try and not think about that too much.

The lyrics in here play a big part for me.   If you're going to rap you have to have a flow, which is heard on "COLD WAVY" for sure, but then there also needs to be something worth rapping about-- you can't just rhyme words and create nonsense.     The biggest theme i take away from "COLD WAVY" is the hook from a chorus that says "I don't wanna go outside".   This is actually from the first track, but that general theme does reoccur and I have to appreciate it because I share similar views.

Multiple voices might be rapping but why not because this is supported by layers of beats.   It's not just that hip hop aspect of it that works so well, there is something extra in here.   It sounds almost 8bit in some way, but then I do realize there are serious rappers out there who rap over 8bit sounds about comic books and what not, but that isn't what this is.    It's more of an actual hip hop feel than one that is being gimmicked to appeal to nerds.

"COLD WAVY" ends with a cover of The Mob's "I Wish", displaying the hip hop roots at their best, as The Mob is not even a hip hop act and is rather a punk band.    Now if there was a cover to end on here of an actual hip hop song (Mobb Deep?) it might make you think differently about this cassette, as in thinking of it to be more cliche, but seeing that they took a slower punk song and turned it into their own version of electronic hip hop just oozes of talent.  

This is one of those cassettes you need to be listening to now because if you don't, you're going to hear about it in time and by then, it'll be sold out and you'll be kicking yourself, wishing you had gotten it back when you had the chance.    This is my warning to you, how you should choose to use it remains in your hands.