Tuesday, 2 August 2016

BOYS DON'T CRY: Frank Ocean's "channel ORANGE" and his imminent new release...



A new outing by the famed Frank Ocean is nearly upon us so it is indeed as good a time as ever to look back on his album debut, "channel ORANGE". With an unconventional style seen rarely before, it is easy to understand why this released to such acclaim back in 2012 as there just isn't anything quite like it.

I knew I was in for a treat as soon as the opening track, aptly titled "Start" well, started. An ambient offering, it banks on your nostalgia, with a sound that is all too familiar to those who ever got their hands on an original PlayStation. This immediately being followed up by the downright soulful "Thinkin' Bout You" is bliss. An opening string sequence transitions into a soft electronic beat in a way you never thought could happen so smoothly. This backed up with Ocean's initially surprising snaps between baritone and falsetto vocal registers makes for a certainly memorable track, which some consider the best of the album. And when you open your album with what is debatably your best track, (here's looking at you, "The Life of Pablo") you better have a strong offering to follow.

But of course, it does. The obviously film-inspired segue tracks create a flow between tracks, most notably the follow-up track to "Thinkin' Bout You", "Fertilizer". It creates one seamless experience, something commonly heard on Boards of Canada's discography, an intermission before the next piece comes along to entertain. "Sierra Leone" is that next piece, rich in metaphors and allusions a layer deeper than the face value of the lyrics presented. The song title echoes into your ears as surreal imagery is posed by Ocean in the form of the Sierra Leone's pink skies, relating to a loved one. The tracks as it continues brings the same offering, which is no flaw, mind you, and then the album hits its centerpiece: "Pyramids".

"Pyramids" is by far and away my personal favourite, cramming in so many styles so flawlessly with an epic scope, edging into the 10-minute mark. The length is not an issue, those 10 minutes go by in half that time, a true joy to listen to. It has multiple movements; opening with Ocean's trademark R&B quirks before swapping that out for an electronic tinge and coming to a close with a slow jam. The mid-point is where it is at its most exciting with its electronic beat unlike anything I've heard before, alluding to prostitution: "She's working at the pyramid tonight." Oh, Cleopatra, how you are. 

The other standout that stems from this is "Forrest Gump", a seemingly straightforward tribute to the titular character, masquerading to be Ocean using the perspective of Gump's love interest as his own. Ocean's lingering feelings for his first love, a controversial point that floated around the album at its initial release to which there is one simple answer for: the album itself. This song does not outright prove his sexuality but is a heavy metaphor that essentially consolidates his feelings. It stands as a strong track with Frank again showcasing his soulful performance with a rock solid beat to back it up.

There are individual highlights but this album's greatest strength is that it culminates into an overall experience, a journey into Frank Ocean's idiosyncrasies and thoughts. That is what makes it special, its unconventional nature is unique to itself. If the rumours are true, "Boys Don't Cry" is due out this Friday, August 5th. I know what I will be listening to that day. Until then, its a perfect time to catch up with "channel ORANGE"... or listen to it again, and again, and again...

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