Fliptrix - INEXHALE - OLS Review

Fliptrix is back again to let loose a barrage of heavy Hip Hop, Trap and Grime tracks, delivering high-energy bars and beats in his latest album; INEXHALE.

Contrasting with his previous album 'Patterns Of Escapism', Fliptrix delivers his bars rapidly and fast with little room to catch his breath between verses. And though lyrics maintain the classic Fliptrix style of direct messages framed in scene-setting references to the elements around the topic, INEXHALE sticks out as it departs from the funky, bouncey delivery style and soulful flows, to take on a more 'punching', dump-valve release style. When he's not pushing his lungs to the limit on fast-spoken, packed verses, he's launching spaced-out lyrics with volume and energy to ensure every millilitre of every exhale is put to work!

The lyrics take you through the events of Fliptrix's journey through life and music, painting abstract images of his experiences to explain his outlook and share what he's learned so far. Delving deep into inner consciousness and the human experience to discover the foundations of what we're made from, and pointing out the external environments that shape us, Fliptrix explains the key findings of his studies in certain subjects for each track. From the vague shapes one can make out from the ether in 'Inhale' and how one tries to navigate them in 'Too Close To The Sun', we are shown his perspective on handling the mysteries of life. Other tracks are more literal and direct. 'One Hundred Feat. Datkid' tells how maximum efforts are made to keep one's head above water through life's harsh challenges, and 'Locked Down' explains the methods and practices one needs to follow in order to prepare for the inevitable hard times, and maintain the focus and drive needed to be the capable and effective being described in 'It's Like That'. Of course, a moment is taken to go mad and enjoy a hype in 'Inside the Ride Feat. Ocean Wisdom & Onoe Caponoe' and 'Catch Banter'. With the final tracks we have 'Take Off' covering how Fliptrix gathers all he's learned and developed so far to take on the next chapter, and 'Exhale' which takes a moment to look back and reflect on the paths traveled. Track sixteen is a mellow instrumental with a brief introduction to meditation - specifically the breathing pattern that likely inspired the album's name.

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Production assembles the work of Joe Corfield, Molotov, and Chemo, with the tracks arranged to make the three styles link together seamlessly as the album moves from one track to the next. The 'echoey' distant synths and samples over reverberated drums in the beginning Hip Hop tracks, flow smoothly into the distorted 'vapourwave' melodies in the following trap tunes that bring long, organ-like bass riffs with subtle high-end percussion. Sampled instruments become more prominent and clear as the album moves into a heavy grime session in the middle, where layered samples and synths provide the dark platform on which Fliptrix and featured MCs unleash a ton of bars that light-up the sky like tracer-rounds to fronting bombers. The grime session closes to welcome the more classic, rolling Hip Hop vibe of simplistic melodies over complex bass and short-tap snares, for a quick break before getting back to an atmospheric grime, trap, and hip hop trio to compliment what's been done throughout the album leading up to them.

INEXHALE is an album with a message. You really want to sit down and give it your full attention and analyse what is being expressed. Fliptrix seems to have found something, and he wants us to find it too.
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Lock and load a copy of this battle-plan track collection for your music library on the 24th of August 2018, on Vinyl, CD, and Tape over at the official High Focus website!
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- Fire@Will - OneLion Sound