Emancipator - Dusk To Dawn [2013]

"Minor Cause"

Emancipator's new album, Dusk To Dawn, just came out yesterday and I've had a chance to give it a few listens all the way through and I can say I enjoyed it.
I stumbled across Emancipator trying to find someone who would match Saltillo's music, which I love. I also enjoyed Emancipator's first two releases quite a bit. This is a good album and it has most, if not all, of the elements I really enjoy in trip-hop music. However, I can't say I loved it, nothing against Emancipator but I just feel like there is something missing for it to reach that next level for me. The album had some great tracks, "Minor Cause" is awesome and I feel like tracks like that and "The Way" are tailor made for me but the album as a whole wasn't as enjoyable as I hoped. Just because an album doesn't become one of my top favorites does not mean it wasn't a great album so I would definitely recommend this to fans of trip-hop. Like Emancipator's previous releases, I get this somber and depressing feeling from some of his tracks but other tracks like "Valhalla" and "Merlion" feel very upbeat.

All in all, the album has very pleasing beats overlaid with some nice piano melodies, horns ("The Way"), and great strings. It was consistent and good throughout but it didn't have the secret magic to boost it to the top for me, personally. [7/10]

Listen!