Dessa
Chime
Doomtree
“Oh, Dessa has a new album, eh? I’ll give it a couple listens and write a quick review.”
That was nearly two weeks ago, in which I’ve listened to Chime no less than 20 times. I’ve laughed, and I’ve very literally cried. I’ve let my body absorb the orchestral swells, I’ve dissected the lyrics, and I’ve tried very hard to figure out what to say.
Dessa has been one of my favorite lyricists since I heard her debut full length, A Badly Broken Code, which includes some of my favorite lines in hip hop. With Chime, she builds on her already phenomenal wordplay, supplementing with quick, fierce raps and soaring, mellifluous balladry.
As much as I fawn over Dessa’s poetry and ethereal vocals, she brought in some pals to help. As part of Minneapolis’ Doomtree crew, she has no shortage of production talents to draw from, with Lazerbeak, Paper Tiger, and Cecil Otter chimed in with their production skills. Their comfort and understanding of each other shines through in each Doomtree release. With Chime, it seems like such an organic fit that it’s hard to fathom.
Chime is as diverse as Dessa’s vocabulary. With “Shrimp,” Dessa unloads a quick freestyle while “Half of You” is a jaunty, albeit serious dive into tumultuous relationships. But what hit me hardest was “Good Grief.” If the video is to be an indicator, the song would a melancholy look back at a breakup. But, as everyone does, I’ve attached my own hang ups to it, thinking about the family I lost last year, and the juxtaposition of amazing memories and the jarring realization that new memories will have to be made without them.
If you are interested in facing raw emotions, fun little musical trips, and stunning arrangements, go listen to Chime. If you’re not, well, you should be. Go listen to Chime anyway.