Melbourne based future-soul/hip-hop outfit Mosé & The FMLY have been slowly ploughing away at the over-saturated live music scene for the better part of four years.
Having steadily amassed a following through support slots for artists including Badbadnotgood, Naughty By Nature and Souls Of Mischief, it’s surprising that it has taken this long for the sextet to release a full body of work. The wait is now over with the release of their debut EP Slow Drip.
It’s immediately evident from the opening moments of lead single Roads, that the sheer complexity of the music has warranted the extended creative time.
Having already gained extensive rotation on Triple J and FBi, the song is the perfect introduction to the group’s unique combination of soul and hip-hop, with vocalists Mosé and Ta$h Fernando bouncing off each other with ease.
What the group achieve here is the harmony between intricacy and simplicity. I C U (Passing By) starts off easily enough, before breaking into a choppy fanfare that will make the head of any music major student spin. From there, the song settles into a steady groove that propels the song towards one hell of a soulful chorus.
Admittedly there some cheesy moments, like, “I’m living for the moment, not living for myself” in Movie Tickets. However the cocktail of soulful, bossa nova-inspired grooves and heavy back-beat breakdowns more than make up for this little hurdle.
The EP isn’t without its fair share of guest appearances either. The relentless drive of Chains is beautifully contrasted with a soaring vocal line in the chorus, courtesy of Hiatus Kaiyote backing singer Jace XL. Erupting from the churning rhythms of the verse, Jace flows through the murky instrumentation, adding the perfect amount of light to the musical palate. More collaborations come from N’fa and Cazaeux O.S.L.O, who bring the perfect amount of chill to wavy album closer Gun Birds, helping the song to swell dynamically without overflowing.
Slow Drip is a carefully thought out musical project which simmers with energy, but paces itself almost agonisingly at times, holding off the perfect amount to encourage the listener to stay on for the next track. The combination of musical awareness and skill in crafting their own unique take on hip-hop, all the while remaining loyal to its roots, is a rare find.
With Australian hip-hop constantly on the rise, Mosé + The FMLY’s debut release is a welcome addition to the incredible, ever-expanding local scene.
Slow Drip is fantastic, and we can’t wait for more.
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