STONEFRENGE: Black in Space by ZOOLOOK is a boundary-pushing exploration of sound and storytelling. This nine-track dub reggae space opera album takes you to space and makes you dance in it while being calmed and relaxed simultaneously in its meditative atmosphere.
Written, performed, and produced entirely by ZOOLOOK at his independent record label in San Francisco, the tracks are richly textured, each offering its own narrative within the larger cosmic theme of the artist’s animated music video series.
“Soul Rebel,” named after the designation of the protagonists, opens the album with a catchy reggae groove enhanced by lush horns that sensationalize the song alongside soulful female vocalizations and atmospherics. On “LoFi IRIE Feeling,” the mellow, sultry hums and echoing vocals layer over hard-hitting beats to create a hypnotic, relaxing ambiance and to introduce the fictional setting, “IRIE (Intergalactic Rebels for Interstellar Exploration,” from the artist’s series.
The titular track, “Black in Space,” stands out as a highlight, seamlessly blending sharp beats, soothing horns, and spoken-word elements calling for planetary purification, making it a sonically compelling and thematically profound continuation to the story.
“HAL-LE” echoes with harmonies and pumps with catchy, hooky beats that make you want to sway your hips to. It relaxes with soothing guitar rhythms and over that, an AI voice comes and promises her allegiance to human.
STONEFRENGE immerses you into a sonic and visual universe where reggae meets the cosmos, showcasing ZOOLOOK’s innovative blend of music, art, and storytelling. Check out the music videos to get the whole gist of the album.
KEEP IN TOUCH:
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | SPOTIFY | BANDCAMP | TIKTOK | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE
Review by: Naomi Joan