Album Review: The Bug - Angels & Devils
In an incredibly sharp contrast to the low key, atmospheric
post-trip hop and dubstep influenced vibes of King Midas Sound, English
producer Kevin Martin has returned to his “The Bug” moniker, and on Angels & Devils, he evokes two
feelings, and two feelings only—tension and aggression.
There are moments on Angels
& Devils where it feels like you are waiting for the impact of a
horrific car accident (like on the extended organ drone of “Pandi”), and there
are moments where you get so worked up, you just want to start a fight with
someone. It’s a confrontational, abrasive record, and even when it shows hints
of incredibly calculated restraint, Martin holds absolutely nothing back when
it comes to the full on sonic assault.
Expanding on the theoretical genre Martin calls “Acid
Ragga,” a juxtaposition of elements from Ragga Dancehall and Acid House music, Angels & Devils is a listen that is
not for the faint of heart, specifically as the record progresses into the
second half—six songs that are practically too much to handle, with the first
half being structured in such a way that builds the tension leading up to an
angry release on “The One,” a track that explodes with machine gun fire snares
and blaring synth blasts, and then peaks with probably the most abrasive track,
“Fuck a Bitch,” a song that boasts a guest appearance from the now defunct
Death Grips. “ “What ‘choo know about how
I fucks with it?” MC Ride yells as the beginning of the song, even before
the music has really kicked in, as if there was even any question that MC Ride
is not to be trifled with under any circumstances.
Despite how militant and combative Angels & Devils can be, it’s actually that fact that makes this
album such a compelling, interesting, and worthwhile listen if you are able to
work past the initial layers of resistance Martin puts up. And despite how
serious this can all come across, Martin himself has an amazing sense of humor
(just follow him on Twitter)—also, I am fairly certain “Fat Mac” is not an
“It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” reference, but one can’t help but think
that.
I think it goes without saying that it’s an “acquired
listen,” and it’s certainly the kind of record that you have to be in the right
frame of mind to thoroughly enjoy. And even then, if you’re in the frame of
mind to be like, “Oh I want to listen to this super aggressive album by The
Bug,” by the time the final strains of “Dirty,” echo out into the distance, the only thing you’ll want to do is royally fuck some shit up.
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