There’s a certain boldness in turning big, messy global systems into music that actually grooves, and Wes Carroll pulls it off with The Capitalocene. Released in 2026 under the Wes Carroll Confabulation, this four-track EP dives headfirst into conscious issues. Blending hip-hop, soul, jazz, and roots, Carroll builds a sound that feels both grounded and exploratory, like a late-night jam session that somehow turns into a political awakening. Slide guitars drift alongside vibraphones, beats thump under poetic bars, and through it all, there’s this sense that history is breathing down our necks.
The title track, “Capitalocene,” kicks things off with a slick, genre-hopping momentum. Catchy beats anchor the track while Carroll raps with a smooth, charismatic flow, gliding effortlessly between lines. There’s a looseness to the rhythm, especially when the arrangement swings into a double-time jazz-inflected section, giving the track a restless, shape-shifting energy.
“It’s Our Turn” shifts the tone without losing the message. Here, folk and soul textures soften the edges, while a steady groove carries the track forward. Carroll comes across as hypnotic as he reflects on ancestry, resistance, and responsibility. When the marching-band-style rhythm creeps in, it adds a quiet sense of movement—like a procession, or maybe a call to step up.
Then comes “Apolitical,” and yeah, this one hits with urgency. The beats land harder, the flow tightens, and Carroll’s delivery speeds up, edged with frustration. Swirling vibraphones and slide guitar weave around the verses, creating controlled chaos that mirrors the song’s themes. He sings about untapped capacity, turning into an uncomfortably familiar mantra.
“All Aboutt” closes things out on a more expansive note, blending indie rock energy with introspective pacing. It builds slowly, with piano, rhythm and voice, before opening into something more communal, almost hopeful.
All in all, The Capitalocene doesn’t just critique the system—it invites you to feel it, question it, and maybe even push back.
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Review by: Naomi Joan