knapsack - Clasp (Shortcuts)

After being wowed by my first exposure to knapsack via "Brainforest" back in October, my interest was once again captured when his track "Clasp (Shortcuts)" came up in my feed this morning. From his just released debut album Bend, this track is yet another example of the Chicago product's overwhelming warmth of production and crush-worthy creativity.

While the previous single "Inferior" takes a more typical song structure, this track plays out more like a beat, but a brilliant one at that. The chords are cool and calming yet command attention, the way the glisten and glide seems to speak to the secondary title, (Shortcuts). There's just something about their delivery that seems swift in its movement despite their length.

Then there's the understated yet sublime secondary melody that swings in around 0:45. It's delivery is a deliriously delightful mixture of toy box tuning and ethereal atmosphere. Opposing this, and leading to the eventual jamming finale, is the depths of bounding bass at about 2:13. And this is where the track becomes more than just a beat: knapsack's knack for strong sound design and playful progression is on full display, and yet I haven't got to my favourite part of the track, what I see as the titular component.

The "Clasp" here seems overtly obvious and oh so integral to the top notch nature of this production, it is of course the crispy crunch of his percussion. At times echoing endlessly, others a simple double tap, but however it occurs it is always awesome and truly the key connection between the magnificent melodies and ingenious grooves. Stream the track below, Bend via Spotify here and via iTunes here.FOLLOW KNAPSACK: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER

knapsack - Brainforest

Chicago producer Gabriel O'Leary, aka knapsack, has been on quite a run in the last few months releasing several sensational productions. His blend of indie acoustic sounds, with dynamic electronic elements, and just a dash of internet-age ingenuity makes his already unique musicality even moreso magical. His latest, "Brainforest" brings all those assets together while transporting you to a transcendental thicket. The genre tag "Religion & Spirituality" seems apt as knapsack's living and breathing atmosphere springs to life, thrusting you into a grove of meditation. You cannot help but pulse with pure pensiveness. The intro allows for separation of body and soul, through its incredible dissonance. Once in the ticket of thought, you're left to battle the bass booms and jungle grooves among all nature of the unknown. There's just something about "Brainforest" that prevents me from addressing it from a mere musical standpoint, instead it speaks to a more mystical, almost primordial level. And really, what could be better than that? Music is meant to make you feel and think, and there's no question "Brainforest" succeeds on a level unmatched by most. It is awesome, intelligent and an all around cool creation. Keep knapsack in the back of your mind as many of his tracks elicit the same effects, and are, like "Brainforest," available for free download. Enjoy the orchard of enlightenment!FOLLOW KNAPSACK: FACEBOOK SOUNDCLOUD TWITTER