Chromatic Warfare is an invigorating prismatic collection of styles that compliment each other because of the sincerity of the artists’ intent. Noel Black & XRA cross genres with authority and ingenuity, honoring traditions while innovatively pairing diverse musical styles. The sizzling dancehall of “Judge Before Reading” is ominously enlightening. Noel lays down stinging social commentary with a classic toasting style delivery. He sings: “Think you’ve got me figured out by the color of my skin / Ignorance is bliss, you should judge what’s within / Youths be wise, analyze the word that they speak / Say that we’re equal but who the cops kill in these streets?” On “Riot,” XRA steps up to the mic with a fiery flow and is militantly philosophical. She rhymes: “Climbing out the box, it’s too dark to see / How can I evolve with this lame mentality / Tired of being run by a massive convening of / Men who pretend like they even know me.” The anthemic “We Get Busy” is undeniably uplifting, playful in mood, thick with rugged beats, and featuring sensual hooks. This track lightens the album’s mood without dulling its impact.
World’s Most Beautiful Abandoned Places
Italian product manager and web designer Francesco Mugnai recently added a collection of images to his blog touting some of the most beautiful images of abandoned spots and modern ruins that he’d ever seen. The images Mugnai has captured come from empty castles, shuttered power plants, and dilapidated churches around the world. From a sunken yacht in Antarctica to a forever-closed amusement park in Japan, these images all make up a sort of anti-phoenix; rather than rising as new from the ashes, these husks remain preserved in decomposition, forcing viewers to confront the strange beauty of ruination.
