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August 4, 2020 - Paul Institute
Enigmatic shadow siblings shrouded in mystery Jai and A.K. Paul have set up an institute, an organizational body created for a specific and certain purpose, most likely to collaborate with and release the work of like-mind-ed, similarly-aesthetic-ed artists and musicians. Well, the Paul Institute was established in 2016; apart from a trickle of singles, this Summer 2020 compilation marks the first substantial, collective outing. It’s something I’ve been primed for for the past decade, since the doors opened by the Paul brothers have begged for closer inspection.
A.K. Paul kicks this journey off with ‘Be Honest,’ a stripped back sultry landscape dominated by towering synth chords and a rubber ball bass. A.K. sings out to a past lover, injecting his voice with emotion then trailing off to build tension. More complex melodic lines slither around the chord columns, remaining just out of reach.
Next is previous Institute collaborator HIRA with ‘Unreal.’ The landscape here immediately fills out; lush pads and pseudo-orchestral swells cover the soundscape, HIRA’s legato phrasings blanketing any break in instrumentation. This works in contrast to the opening track, with moments of silence becoming anchor points. The words speak of interaction in this age of social media, of personal identity and the seemingly necessary visage some choose to adopt.
The illusion fractures with REINEN’s ‘Shadow Knight,’ an abstracted lightning storm of sound and emotion. The verdant tones from ‘Unreal’ remain, though darkness permeates. REINEN’s vocals flip between flashes of light and low purrs, dotting the space with images of large cats and predatory musings. A thick 808 bassline and airy hi-hats keep the piece rooted in the pop/dance realm, though the whimsical theater-esque vocal treatment edges the piece towards the fantastical.
Ruthven’s ‘Have You Decided?’ throws back the curtains of mystery, jumping into the pool of straightforward but still intriguing songwriting and calling forth the spirits of the 80s and 90s to guide listeners onwards and upwards. Ruthven’s heavenly falsetto takes charge of the arrangement, billowing out a question of unanswered decisions and potentially unrequited love. The instrumentation is nostalgic but not derivative, a blend of stride piano, New Orleans R&B, worldbeat, and progressive pop; it’s infectious. Unlike the other tracks on offer, the fadeaway here switches to what appears to be another song entirely, a teasing practice even more frustrating than the fadeaways themselves.
Fabiana Palladino keeps the unrequited relationship train moving on ‘Waiting,’ trading the softer piano for a guitar with distortion pedals a-plenty. A parents-basement drum kit joins the party followed by an analogue synth on the 80s pop ballad preset. Palladino keeps the arrangement light and fresh, wearing inspiration on her sleeve but not being defined by it. Lyrics of regret and the passing of time dance in time with the gritty instrumentation; hope presides over despair.
Riding up in the caboose, newcomers Mahir Mistry and Keen Collard present ‘Dynasty’ as Pen Pals. The tone feels familiar but the message takes a turn from the previous tracks, exploring the all-too-familiar situation of codependency and toxicity many find themselves in, especially during the year we’ve had. The instrumentation takes a few steps back to give room to the vocals, but the slap bass and shakers make their presence known. It’s a smooth and uncomplicated track, like many on this project, but its high contrast and impeccable production stay in line with the ethos of the Paul Institute.
Even in releasing new material, the Paul brothers remain cryptic. The addition of five talented acts to the Institute's roster gives promise for a potentially steadier stream of releases, but 2020 has already seen me abandon most of my positive, hopeful sentiments. As I have learned following Jai Paul’s viscoelastic-pitch-like-dripping releases, I must remain thankful for the moments that do come my way. I am grateful for the Paul Institute - Summer 2020 collection and the artists responsible for its existence.🍍