Harry
If SATURATION is a child running around and excitedly running around a playground, GINGER is a mopey teenager brooding in their room. The album is distinctly melancholy and is perfectly reflected in the washed out colour pallet of the cover art. Throughout the album it becomes clear why. Though there has been a full album between now and the controversy that caused one member to leave, BROCKHAMPTON clearly still have a lot to get off their chest. So if you’re looking for a return to SATURATION, this is definitely not it. But it’s still pretty good.
Matt’s delivery in the first song sets the tone for the whole album, with his low monotone verse sounding contemplative and subdued (far from the infamous verse on JUNKY). Though the deliveries are less erratic and potentially less captivating at points, I think the new maturity really comes out best in the instrumentals. Some of the beats produced are absolutely luscious, from the bouncy BOY BYE to the stark HEAVEN BELONGS TO YOU (which has a delightful Slowthai feature, continuing their interest in the UK rap scene). If you’re interested in the gossip, it all comes on the song DEARLY DEPARTED which is potentially the groups most emotionally charged song. The album definitely isn’t perfect though. There are a couple of songs which fall short, such as St Percy and If You Pray Right. On a potentially harsh note, I honestly have no idea why Bearface is still in the group – he genuinely adds nothing.
BROCKHAMPTON may be in the depths of sadness due to the years following SATURATION, but they’re clearly still capable of making some really great music.
77/100
Spazzy McGee 