Bad Cartoons

Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/album/4CQCo2Er3BRfqGmn5AGT8x [Included in the album download is a PDF booklet with "Bad Cartoons" illustrations created by Esseks] Brooklyn-native Esseks delivers the full length “Bad Cartoons”, his second album this year via Gravitas Music, for free/pay-what-you-want download. After a previous collaborative release on Gravitas with the king of weird, Space Jesus, Esseks’ personal style has ample room to flex this time around on each of the nine tracks. The old school hip hop influences are obvious throughout; the swing of each beat drips with classic style, mixing flawlessly with twisted melodies and rolling bass. Apart from being a talented musician and beat-smith, Esseks also created the cover art as well as a PDF booklet of “bad cartoon” illustrations included with each album download. “On The Dial” kicks the release off with a quick pace and experimental percussion. Called “equally silly and melancholy” by The Untz, “Overrated” shows us the more fun side of Esseks’ songwriting. The title track hit hards and fast, focusing on a multi octave, diminished progression. Like the name suggests, “Bowzer” does elicit nostalgia for the video games of yesterday, albeit in somewhat of a creepy yet psychedelic fashion. “If I Could” demonstrates the artists’ more loungey sensibilities, with “Yougotme” following closely behind with a chopped vocals and a smooth bassline.