Review: "Nothing in Common" Album by Will Ryte
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Mississauga, ON based rapper, producer and guitarist Will Ryte delivers a pristine, polished sound on the introspective “Nothing in Common” album. Arrangements go for pure luxury for every single element has a silky-smooth quality. Nearly physical with the gorgeous low end, the songs have steady powerful bass line anchoring the whole journey.
The songs’ melodies have a warped, woozy quality to them. Drenched in darkness there is a late-night vibe that runs through the whole of the album. Sonically tied together, the way that the tracks build off each other makes it akin to a grand journey. The small details matter for the entirety of the album, going for a spacious, expansive take. Nothing ever overstays its welcome, for Will Ryte keeps things tight.
Going for a distinctly newer hip-hop style, Will Ryte draws from elements of Yung Lean’s far-off, spaced-out sound. Production too nods to Yung Lean’s early work, as does his fantastic flow. The faded approach at times draws from a weird and wonderful array of influences. For the nostalgic tact, elements of Boards of Canada’s eerie melodies permeate the pieces. On purely the beat craft, Will Ryte draws from the crisp nimble tact of Flying Lotus in terms of its sheer creativity.
A lovely open comes through on the tremendous title track “Nothing in Common” where the tempo takes on a languid contemplative tact. Lilting samples tie together the whole of the bombastic beats of “Cash Out”. Tenderness rests at the very heart of “Milli”. Verses cascade down on the energetic “Never Know, feat. K-Cuzz. Highly ornate “Looking Back”, feat. 595century, opts for a slightly tragic note.
By far the highlight of the album comes from the exploration of anxiety with “Saying Less”. Delivered with urgency, the piece swirls about in a surreal haze. Nimble percussion skitters over the whole of “Rooftops”, feat. gads6y. The hauntingly beautiful “Count on Me” features a twisted toy box melody interspersed with lyrics that tap into a bit of defiance. “December” brings the whole of the album together neatly summarizing all that came before.
The “Nothing in Common” album proves Will Ryte to be a masterful storyteller, sculpting small vignettes from a life lived to the absolute fullest. We look forward to hearing much more from this talented artist out of the Greater Toronto Area.