winkyface - The Shrug

winkYface

The Shrug
self-released; 2013

4. 0 out of 5

By Matt Jensen

It’s 2013 and there is so much music that has been made. I'd say around 98% of the music I hear sounds closely related to about two or three bands. I am excited to announce that winkYface is the exception and is one of the artists I consider to be in the elusive 2%. WinkYface is the moniker of Brandon Spangler who creates experimental hip-hip that fuses unpredictable atmosphere with not only unique rhythmic patterns but unique elements. For example, the drums don’t sound like a standard kit on a number of songs, instead the kick drums sounds like it was manipulated with a resonant filter and the snare sounds like it may be a vocals sample. What's even more impressive than that on his release The Shrug is his attention to detail. The drum kits and percussive elements are varied for each song. On “Sitting w/Demons” he uses an almost industrial sounding mechanical reverb laced kit while on “Skip to My Free” he decides to use someone’s (maybe his) beatboxing skills.The six-song album starts with “Softkore Symphony” which utilizes soft, quirky-sounding synths

that layer and cascade as different elements like percussion and other electronics are introduced. At less than half way through, Spangler makes his presence known by talk/rapping with a subdued tone while intelligently spitting lines. “Inception Synecdoche Fight Club Jenga” creates an ominous atmosphere that could be mistaken for an alien planet’s atmosphere but the beauty of the song is the transitions that happen over time. Elements drop in and out, as vocals are manipulated as his circular, original poetry is delivered with ease. Spangles choses to talk more than rap on “Sitting w/Demons” as manipulated vocals and some white noise create an utterly unique musical landscape. “The Shrug Pt.1” is probably his most straightforward song on the album while “Skip to My Free” displays some incredible beatboxing skills. The album closes with “The Shrug Pt. 2” which displays another different vocals style. 

The Shrug is an album that I hope is heard by not only died hard music fans but people who like mainstream hip-hop (or really any type of music for that matter) as well. WinkYface has created the type of album that shouts originality but at the same time isn’t so experimental that it wouldn’t be inaccessible to most listeners. 

Soundcloud