That is the 4th prolonged play from Brooklyn, New York emcee/producer SHVMIRE. Dropping his debut EP 333 <3 in addition to a full-length debut Reclusive Poet he primarily self-produced and the Saxophones & Intercourse EP in 2024, he would finally make his return this previous Christmas Eve releasing his earlier EP Grinch’n. Nearly 3 months later, he’s persevering with to take a backseat behind the boards & inform extra tales of the masked hooded determine with a blue face & a closed yellow eye named ANU by placing out Eyes Vast Shut.

“Broadway & Canal St.” begins with this drumlessly jazzy beat explaining that everybody having the precise to brag as a result of it’s all information whereas “Fidelio” that includes Nuemoney718 soulfully talks about what occurs when pussy’s at stake. “Black Gatsby” chops up extra chipmunk soul samples suggesting that everybody listening finds their ardour whereas “Press Play” that includes Motion Determine 973 talks about how shit will get actual within the east coast.

Nuemoney returns for “The Shining” utilizing correct grammar to talk of cash persevering with to depend on sampling instrumentally & “Mota y Platanos” additionally that includes Nuemoney references the present 4-time TNA World Tag Group Champion & inaugural 4th Rope World Tag Group Champion Jeff Hardy. “Auntie Margaret’s Soul Meals” soulfully talks about how he’s solely warming up whereas “Uncle Elroy’s Pie” welcomes anybody in search of a repair to his humble spot.

“Damaged Mirrors” winds down Eyes Vast Shut’s previous few moments clarifying that he’s in his 4th season who’s nonetheless commencing his reclusive type of hip hop reasonably than being a rookie & the beat seems like one thing out of a improvised jazz band session whereas “Observe the Gentle” is ties all of it up with this celebratory nearer firing off fast flows speaking about him considering in double time lately & that he’s nearer to God after stepping in direction of this brightness he’s referring to.

Identified for mixing gritty hip hop with jazz-influenced textures & surreal film-like vitality, Eyes Vast Shut leans totally into that imaginative and prescient by pairing music with darkly immersive visuals impressed by secrecy in addition to energy & hidden worlds. The tip result’s SHVMIRE’s biggest solo materials up to now. He makes use of ANU as each an alter ego very similar to what one in every of my prime 10 producers of all-time Madlib has beforehand completed with Quasimoto & a storytelling system the place all the things connects, which is exemplified by the cohesive transitions.

Rating: 8/10