Luxury Eviction - Master of None

Luxury Eviction

Master of None
self-released; 2018

​3.9 out of 5

By Dan Weston

Blair B. aka Luxury Eviction just released an album entitled Master of None. The album is made of electronic and organic elements which always veer towards a darker aesthetic. Bands like Portishead, Grouper and even Fionna Apple come to mind.

​There is some beautiful instrumentation throughout and there is also no denying the vocals were impressive. I myself love dark music to get wrapped into although sometimes just a little levity goes a long way no matter if you are Radiohead, Portishead or any other artist that presents a very “serious” approach to their music. I can’t say there was much levity to be found but there were moments here and there.

The album starts with the title track “Master of None.” You are greeted with some minimal piano but the song quickly picks up when the drums are introduced. I loved the jazzy, clean drum they have here. It’s a pretty catchy song and the lyrics are ambiguous and interpretive but there is occasionally straightforward language such as “And I promise someday / You’ll feel ok / You will recognize / The soul you've made.”

Up next is “Dragonflies in Hurricanes” which is a strong name for a song. It’s rainy and windy at first with the hum of an organ which has a symbiotic relationship with the elements. The vocals come in and are the clear focal point. As the song progresses it’s kept minimal with no percussion introduced.

An electronic beat starts off “Altered Cinder.” This is one of the more dynamic vocal performances and the instrumentation blends piano with warmer sub bass frequencies.

“On Your Tongue” is essentially soft orchestral elements, pianos and vocals. It’s a haunting and beautifully dynamic song. “Catching Fire” puts the emphasis on a warmer organ and vocals while “Could Be Worse” could be considered the levity I was referring to which comes in the form of hope. The album closes with “SoulStar” which is minimal and you might see the space between the piano notes is just as important as the notes that are playing.

I think it’s fair to say Master of None isn’t an album you might play in your car everyday on your ride to work to get the day going. It’s a darker album that will might put you in a pensive, reflective mood. That’s not a bad thing because I think these types of albums are a little deeper and perhaps best if appreciated once in a while. It’s sort of how I feel about albums like The Wall by Pink Floyd. The album is so epic it’s best utilized in the moments when we need them. On that note I suggest you take some time to discover what this artist offers.

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