I’ve been longing for a multi-layered instrumental album this year, and Digital Santa answered my prayers just a few weeks before Christmas.
2 of chillhop’s legends Philanthrope & Juan Rios graced us with an absolute fascination of a record, released via our mates at NINETOFIVE. Caller Unknown features 8 compositions that ebb and flow through emotions and eras and is the perfect soundtrack to a loner self-reflection session as 2024 is coming to an end.
What I appreciate about the album is the smooth and respective way the 2 beatmakers pay homage to 90s r&b music. It adds a feeling of warm familiarity to the listening experience. It may come with age, but I’ve been becoming more and more critical of instrumental albums, so falling in love with one in just a week should speak for the level of skill put into its creation.
The album kicks off with a gentle and inviting instrumental titled "AURA" and I couldn't think of a more alluring beat to set the stage for what's next - a head-bop masterpiece and the albums's title track "CALLER UNKNOWN". Excelling at sampling and crate digging, the two beatmakers have done an outstanding job blending emotions, eras, and genres into a cohesive flow that will leave you wanting more.
Going back to my ebb and flow comment, what makes Caller Unknown stand in the chill hop / lofi / boom bap space is the fusion of funk (NEON with chromonicci) and breakbeat / drum & bass elements (SOLUETA). I call those 2 tracks the salt and pepper to this record because of their vital importance to the final taste of this magnificent beat dish Philanthrope and Juan Rios cooked for us.
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Caller Unknown is a testament to the versatility of Juan Rios and Philanthrope, delivering a dynamic blend that keeps listeners captivated from beginning to end.
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