Ominous Signs - Searching The Fire

Ominous Signs

Searching The Fire
self-released; 2014

3.8 out of 5

By Eva Cantillo

Ominous Signs is a hip-hop duo that blatantly alludes to their style and M.O. through the name of their collaboration. Interestingly enough, the duo’s relationship was birthed and continues to flourish through technology, the one thing that is cynically criticized throughout their entire album Searching The Fire. One side of the duo is Cognition, who brings the deep, poetic and analytical raps and the other half is Aendiem, who supplies the sophisticated and conscious hip-hop beats all of which they brought together while physically being oceans apart.

The main theme of the album is about the future fall of man and it highlights dystopian maladies. The theme and style reminds me of 3030, a dystopian concept album by Deltron 3030. Searching The Fire upholds the standards of pure hip-hop, drawing pictures with complicated wordplay and framing these masterpieces in intricate and utterly compelling melodies. This is experienced on “The Cursed Gold of Andvari,” which immediately starts with the lyrics “the fountains are already drying up.” The beat behind this track is bass heavy and is anchored by a beautifully rich and deep violin riff that repeats over and over again making you bob your super conscious head. Cognition continues to pull the teeth of this wretched society, and as the song goes on, the beautiful usage of violins and bass falls into place you begin to helplessly fall into this hapless society like you were really living it.

“The Hanged Man” starts off with an exotic beat that seems influenced by the east because of its jangles and orchestra like effects. After the first bar, we are introduced to new voices as Cadaver and Despize come in to enlighten us further about the downfalls of ego and distasteful dystopian values. The closing lyrics “the expendable appendage of this family tree was you,” play back into the name of the track, “The Hanged Man.”

Even though there are only four tracks on this release, the songs are so heavy with metaphors and deep beats that you could replay them several times and ride a different dystopian rocket upon every rewind. In reality, several listens is necessary to catch all the madlibs, allusions and similes. Thanks to that chance meeting online, these two producers are able to successfully create hip-hop, which is a rare achievement nowadays.

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