Review: "Shades of BLUE" Mixtape by Ivory Blue
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Ivory Blue employs a blissed-out beautiful sound with his “Shades of BLUE” mixtape. Tremendous rays of light drench the whole of the sound. An absolute celebration of sound, the styles woven together further add to the playfulness of the pieces. Genres filter into the mix from R&B to dance to Afrobeat, all neatly nestled within a pop format. Rhythms have an easy-going quality to them. Deep in the center of it all are Ivory Blue’s wonderful vocals that tie the whole of the journey together. Balance proves to be essential for all the divergent elements go for a lush, gorgeous quality.
Vocals go for a bright and airy disposition. Comparisons to Frank Ocean’s easy-going style feel apt, for, like his work, there is a tenderness at the center of each vignette. The way that the vocalists bring out that care feels doubly refreshing. On the instrumental side, the carefully laid out beats recall the effortless flow of Tony Allen’s work, helping to give the whole collection a gleeful quality. For the washed-out chillwave vibe, Ivory Blue incorporates elements of early Toro Y Moi, especially regarding the lush waves of synthesizer.
“Appreciate”, feat. Dayz, opens the mixtape up in a dreamy way. Guitars waft up into the sky giving it a sort of hazy spirit. Percussion moves front and center stage on the ambitious “Keep It OG”, feat. Buckwylla, where the whole of the work teems with life. Echo further adds to the spaciousness. Crisp nimble beats mixed with mellowed-out riffs give “Set Me On Fire” a distinctly tropical flavor.
Little flourishes matter a great deal on the bouncy “Energy”. Bass worms through the infectious “Fallen” full of so much love. Skeletal percussion gives the dance-inflected “Drop Riddim”, feat. Jlorrd, a certain power, one that feels so potent. Happiness reigns supreme over the Animal Collective inspired finale of “Happy Birthday” which closes out the mixtape.
“Shades of BLUE” shows off Ivory Blue’s ability to sculpt beautiful pieces, exploring the small moments that define a life.