Sy ShacklefordDespite dropping a handful of instrumentals, there isn’t much known about Golden Soul. The press release compared this artist to the likes of J. Dilla, Madlib, and DJ Premier to name a few. With the latest Golden Soul EP entitled “Holograms”, the project’s cover appears to be a vortex manifesting in an inner harbor at night. Also, the press release’s bold comparison to the above hip-hop production luminaries is enough to affect expectations before even listening. For a six-track EP where each instrumental is under two minutes, there still leaves much to be desired.
It begins with the title-track which has reversed synths, moody horns, and a very ambient soundscape. “Prime Time” has lo-fi guitar string loops which are its most prominent aspect. “I Love It” has distorted vocal chanting throughout the albums and evokes a “above-the-clouds-but-below-the-heavens” feeling with its lush backdrop. “Hidden Gems” is not a hip-hop instrumental, and has more of a movie score vibe, eerily similar to early 1980s Jack Nitzsche instrumentals:
The music shifts back to hip-hop on “Flow”, having a piano key sample loop and jazzy drum rhythms. The EP’s closer, “Cool”, is laid back with melancholic guitar cords. The EP clocks in at less than 10 minutes, allowing multiple listens. After doing so, I’ve concluded that claiming that fans of Dilla, Premo, and Madlib will gravitate towards this EP is bold and hyperbole. It’s similar to how film critics have compared the latest Marvel Cinematic Universe movie “Thunderbolts” to “Avengers”: It’s just OK, and therefore, nowhere near the level it’s been compared to.