No Weak Heart Shall Prosper

I think the best kept secrets are those passed along by friends. That's how I first came to know about The Pirate Signal. While word of mouth whisperings and mixtape emails are all well and good I'd have to say that these days the secret is out. Begging to be blasted at maximum volumes to fully unleash its full genre bending mashup of awesome, this is most definitely not your kid sister's favorite emo indie rappers. So when given the opportunity to review The Pirate Signal's "No Weak Heart Shall Prosper" album, like any juicy secret, I couldn't resist sharing it with Miss Izzie and since two sets of ears are better than one this is our collaborative take on the album. As my friends can attest, I consider the word "review" to be a dirty word. A task I only perform when really truly warranted (No Bird Sing/Soulcrate.) While I've been a fan for a while this was Izzie's first introduction to The Pirate Signal.

For me personally, it was an acquired taste, but one that I grew increasingly fond of after each listen. From bits of drum & bass to rock, to auto-tune, scratches, guitar, banging drums.. the beats are unpredictable. At times I knew I was listening to something modern and cutting edge, while others I'd think I was hearing a blast from the past- late 90's rap-rock era. Yonnas has a distinct voice and tone. Lyrically he stands apart, darker than your average flow- layered with poetic lines. The female vocals on some tracks set it over the edge. I think Digital... Rock sum's up what you're in for; hip hop/digital rock/pop. But it still can't prepare you for the diverse hodge podge of musical elements.

The whole album feels like a hurricane in my headphone, taking you through a whirlwind of genre bending tracks. Songs that echo back in your brain for days. I admittedly get really attached to albums for extended periods of time. Crescent Moon is in Big Trouble? No Bird Sing? When I love on something I love on it hard. This is one of those albums that has yet to leave my playlist and I don't foresee living without it anytime soon.

Though I chose a different career path, as a musician at heart, I always dreamt of creating an album that could not be categorized into any genre. I wanted to create music period; therefore I wanted to make each song sound completely different than and unrelated to the next. With the P S, you kind of get a sense of this. If you were to leave this album playing straight through and carry on with whatever you were occupied with prior, you'd probably forget that you were listening to the same group half way through. Now, sometimes too much could be overwhelming and in turn, be a turn off. In this case, the P S gives you such variety that it keeps you interested; gives you a feeling of a book left open.. You can never quite put your finger on what you're hearing, so you continue to listen. Izzie gives two thumbs up.

Fellow friends here in the West can catch Pirate Signal live this week 8/31 @ Baby Sale in Boise, 9/1 @ Ash Street Saloon in Portland, 9/2 @ El Corazon in Seattle, 9/3 @ Hidmo in Seattle, 9/6 @ Hubwize in Huntington Park and 9/9 @ Black Market Goods in Albuquerque. "No Weak Heart Shall Prosper" can also be purchased digitally on itunes.

-Izzie & Salina

Hip Hop Matchmaking: the Dream Team Edition

We could talk music for days and not run out of excitement or things to say. Tonight, like one too many nights before it, we fantasized about what our dream collaborations and tour line ups would be. Few of these pairings came easily, since we have very different individual tastes. Salina is almost completely unfamiliar with Samiha's favorite collective while Samiha is just beginning to dip her toes into NW hip hop. We welcome the opportunity to learn from one another and exchange new and old favorites on a day-to-day basis, but when it comes down to picking three dream collaborations and three dream line ups, "convince me" becomes the theme of the evening. After much back and forth, some compromise, and a few "gimmies", we give you the artists we wish had met in space camp.

Whenever the conversation of dream collaborations come up, the first suggestion is ALWAYS "El Guante and Macklemore, right?" There are not many things that we instantly and wholeheartedly agree on, so when we do you know it is something special. There is the perfect symmetry of similarities and differences to make for a really amazing track (*coughalbumcough*). Both emcees bring a brave honesty to their lyrics. Just as Guante emphasizes the importance of crafting an insightful and interesting angle for every story he tells, Macklemore picks apart every concept, experience, and emotion to create his own original yet relatable take. At the same time, it's exciting and comforting to know that their collaboration probably wouldn't be entirely serious; both emcees have been known to occasionally let their humorous, sarcastic, and playful sides run wild. Guante and Macklemore could probably create the type of perfectly cohesive and balanced yet layered song (*coughalbumcough*) that rappers and fans just dream about. (*coughproducedbybudoandbigcats!cough*)

The second duo also needed no argument or clarification was Mac Lethal and P.O.S. Having already toured and recorded (unreleased) music together, the collaboration was easily a slam dunk. Coupled with the fact that the collaboration seems to be so close to materializing, we could not help but make one more plea for it. Their chemistry would be great; it would be like listening in on a hilarious and completely uncensored conversation between two friends. We can't of course take full credit for coming up with this one, but it's hard not to daydream about what they might come up with together over a Lazerbeat.

When Salina proposed Mike Mictlan and Invincible, Samiha had to take a pause to let the idea fully sink in. Mike was definitely on both our lists, but Samiha had him paired a little differently. After some back and forth it was agreed that this was undoubtedly a dream collaboration for both of us. The blend of sounds and two emcees who can not only match one another evenly but can also challenge one another to step it up intrigued us. It's just crazy enough that it makes total sense.

Creating a concert series of perfect line ups was a little more difficult than our first task. In fact, the only indisputable line up was the often-drooled-over-on-Lethalville teaming of Black Clover Records and Doomtree Records. With both labels bursting at the seams with insane energy and live talents, the possibilities are endless. Plus, what better venue to debut that Mac Lethal/P.O.S. track?

On a Northwestcentric note with a pinch of Midwest flavor, we thought of Thee Satisfaction, Candidt, Step Cousins (Macklemore and Xperience), and Muja Messiah. This would not be one of those nights where half the acts sound the same, while the other half lack the stage presence or crowd awareness to keep you from checking Twitter every few moments. Four acts with chemistry for days, they could offer a little something for everyone. Candidt would get the party started, Thee Satisfaction would get everyone vibing, and Step Cousins or Muja would burn the joint down. You'd dance, you'd bob your head, you'd wave your hand in your signature cool hip hop way, you'd get a full body workout.

After attending so many straight-up hip hop shows, it would be nice to do something a little different: a night of singing, piano playing, band performing, and rapping courtesy of Tonedeff, Louis Logic, and Dessa. Dream Team Unplugged edition. Ego and braggadocio would be set aside for another type of swagger. The three artists would put their raw talent on display, proving that they can sing ballads with just as much confidence, poise, and charm. And maybe there would be time for a jam session, one that would be so creative and productive that the three artists would then leave the show and head straight to the nearest studio to record a genre-crossing, mind-blowing album? *Sigh* If only we should be so lucky....

So there you have it. After much debate, good natured name calling, and endless "ZOMGS!" we give you matches made in Samiha and Salina heaven. We brewed them up with love and care in our super secret special Lovefest laboratory deep within our underground lair with the aid of a little love potion number nine and our Mr. Wizard chemistry kit. We prefer hate/love mail in the form of mix cds. Beware of dogs.


-Salina & Samiha