ivan ave: mid season ep
Francisco Espregueira
Pointing towards his forthcoming full lenght album, All Season Gear, Ivan Ave keeps on with his avant-garde trajectory with Mid Season EP. Following Double Goodbyes, Mid Season finds Ivan Ave in bloom as he evokes the sounds of spring on his latest offering. The EP title also refers to a mid-album-recording process, which Ave currently finds himself in. Since half of the 2010 decade, the Norwegian has been creative and influential artist in the independent music scene in Europe. Within the hip hop realm he is able to touch many different genres and transmit a particular colour that is clear tranlsated into sound that is undoubtedly his. He creates, blends, reinvents his output and Mid Season is yet another interesting take on unconventional music influences.
The instrumentals are warm and Ivan Ave’s distinctive voice blows like a cool breeze through all the production. Dusty drum machines under glacial keys and guitars offer a platform from which Ivan waxes lyrical about everything that touches him. Ave takes aim at the ridiculous aspects of our contemporary society throughout Mid Season, turning his lyrical content towards social realities. The synths sound like they belong to a Maynard Ferguson record rather than a hip hop EP, making the record come alive over a chugging and forceful rhythm section. It provides an airy and playful contrast to the more serious elements, and much like Ivan Ave’s lyrical prowess offers an extra layer of depth. Mid Season EP is available on vinyl, via Mutual Intentions.