Natural State • "Cut Rate Drugs"
Natural State is the brainchild of Beach Jesus's SEER and Jommis. Cut Rate Drugs is the project and worth spins on spins, whether for Beach Jesus fans or those coming in completely fresh. Let there be no question, Natural State stands distinct from the duo's past work, a cold and thoughtful step into the two artists minds. There's some majorly creative musicianship at work on Cut Rate Drugs, and the project's uniqueness makes it that much better.
SEER rocks the production and Jommis and Seer co-own the mic, and given their talents it doesn't take much more for the EP to be a success. The project is rocking a night-time vibe, finding the eerie side of music. Raw yet polished, there's elements of hip-hop, elements of punk, elements of house and ambient; Natural State is definitely a strange beast. The impressive trick they pull off is finding the line between dreaminess and movement, never letting the tracks move into floaty or lightweight territory and keeping the beat pounding.
As a producer, SEER has always exercised an emphasis on rhythm, finding bounce in even the most ominous tracks. On Cut Rate Drugs, he exceeds the already high bar he's set for himself, bringing out some of the most tweaked out, glitchy beats you'll find anytime soon. As for Jommis, his gifts as a singer continuously impress, showing off crazy range. As usual, Jommis brings a great ear for flow to contrast the discordant work of SEER, subtly maneuvering his vocals over SEER's complex set of beats. Don't let Natural State's Cut Rate Drugs slip under the radar, this is a group that needs to be heard. Listen to their debut project from last August, Natural State, here.