By Martin Castro (Contributor) – Email
Print Edition: April 8, 2015
“Sometimes I feel like a scarecrow,” announces Adam Fainman (a.k.a. Beatox) in the song “Oz,” which follows a guitar sample as the first track on Late Nights. “I let my hair blow in the air, I don’t care, yo.” Fainman raps over a track full of funky slapped bass and a squishy, bouncy guitar riff, dropping Wizard of Oz references left and right. There’s funk all over this track, from the sloppy overflowing drum beat to the tight guitar and staccato bass.
In a style slightly reminiscent of Atmosphere, Beatox’s Late Nights flows from track to track effortlessly. Boasting jazz and R&B influences, the song “Dreams are Reality” adds some more energy to the project. Although calm and relaxed, there’s funkiness to Fainman’s rhymes; they line up beautifully with the instrumental, following the bass, riding the drum-beat in a way that speaks to Fainman’s ease on the mic.
Although Late Nights is a pretty short EP at only three tracks, it feels complete in the sense that it doesn’t drag on, and it gives the listener a full picture of Fainman’s aesthetic: full of jazz, soul, and blues, yet upbeat. Contemplative and introspective, yet optimistic.
Lyrically, the seven-minute “Late Night” stands above its two predecessors. Fainman’s delivery, staccato and precise, gives the listener a window into his emotional state, which I can only imagine was comprised of equal parts hesitant introspection and ecstatic, energetic happiness.
Charisma, check. Funky fresh rhymes, check. A sense of happiness at creating music, check. If these three tracks are an accurate representation of what Fainman has to offer, I eagerly look forward to his next project.
