Album Review: Eloquor - From The Oceans Of Karana

From The Oceans Of Karana is Eloquor's third full-length. With it, he has answered the question: what does a politically conscious amateur physicist steeped in Eastern philosophy sound like on a rap beat? The answer: surprising, and good.

As a storyteller Eloquor has an interesting sense of escalation. On Janine we hear of two young people whose paths cross in the self-help section of now defunct book chain Borders. A friendship develops. Our protagonist plucks up the courage to ask Janine out. Inexplicably upset, Janine runs off. Then things start to get strange. First, Janine's departure causes Eloquor to vomit. Then we learn that Janine is terminally ill. She is dead four months later. Heavy. Avalanche also escalates violently. The second verse concludes with a tepid warning about over-sharing on social media ahead of a job interview. The third verse begins with a Skynet-style technological apocalypse. Heavy. The album itself has a strange rhythm. Guest vocalist Ramesh pops up thrice to provide long, deep insights into Hindu doctrines. These tracks jar with Eloquor's bouncy “world music” taste in beats and engaging, straight up delivery. In particular the story of Rajeev, told over four tracks, and placed in the middle of the record, does not mesh neatly with its surrounds.

There is triumph here, too. Electric Kids, produced by Pokerbeats, is the highlight. Eloquor stands tall as the protector and guide of a generation of lost children. The beat bangs. The chorus is a monstrous rallying cry. Avalanche, even as it ups the ante, is well worth a listen, too. There's a lot to enjoy with this record, it's just that some of it is a little obscured.