GHO$$ – The Whitest Blackout
The Whitest Blackout is GHO$$’s dark and atmospheric debut, mixing 1990s trip-hop with alt-pop, electronica, and hip-hop influences. “Train” instantly defines the melancholy trip-hop style, while “Her” adds fragile vocals and scratches to create a very melancholy atmosphere. “Break” includes baroque-pop and Archive-like elements, while “#SADBOYSCLUB” combines futuristic synths, sluggish beats, and electric guitars with melodies of U2 and Depeche Mode. The album’s darker and most atmospheric side is explored in “666” and “Die & Go”. The lyrics carry a lot of mental impact, addressing topics like heartbreak, addiction, inner demons, rage, regret, and loss. Tracks like “Purple Season” and “Bridges” focus on mistakes and memories that refuse to fade, whereas “SAME” takes a more rebellious attitude. The emotional darkness is never separated from the music, as the production constantly emphasises the themes with deep bass, slow rhythms, and atmospheric sounds. I particularly enjoy the contrast between the gentle vocal performances and the stronger electronic and rock elements. GHO$$ creates enough room in the arrangements for the many sounds to interact, even though the trip-hop basis holds the album together from beginning to the end. Overall, The Whitest Blackout is an amazing debut for fans of Portishead, Archive, and darker electronic music, presenting a modern take on trip-hop with a strong human identity.
photo by Edi Sukawa
