Chris Wollstein, AKA Charles Luck, is back with singer Tino Red to create another soulful, sun-filled pop/hip-hop album under project moniker Black Astronaut Records. Hailing from Atlanta, GA, this duo doesn’t make your average, unmemorable dance music with superficial lyrics and a grating, robotic beat – they make music you can feel; modern music that comes fully packed with longing, mourning, and meaning. Ready to dive into their latest five-song release, the simply titled but cleverly succinct The Most? Let’s talk about it.
Wait. Who does what?
Per Chris/Charles, he writes everything and Tino sings everything. And that’s all you need to know.
Listening, and talking about it…
The album kicks off with title track “The Most.” It’s a subtle piano given broad reverb filling the depths of quietly wavering waters. And I think I hear some percussively played acoustic guitar granting the song stable flight. Tino’s voice is perfectly sandy – that is, there’s a slight roughness underlying the mid-to-high expression of his voice. But remember: it’s perfect, so that coarse coloring is just enough to grant his voice an absolutely human vocal amenity. With percussive whooshing and a slight upscaling of energy, this aching number is the perfect emotional entrance to The Most.
“Soul Surfing,” after a frothing electronic wave hits, doesn’t cautiously dip a toe in the water — it just dives in. Although this beginning is subtle, expressed over scratchy, electronic sand gusts and ocean wave washes, the song breaks into heavier, clap-led choruses and glowing chimes made white from a lifetime under the sun. I love the atmosphere created here, the lamenting, the introspection, and the catchy, victorious chorus. Excellent track.
“The Only Drug We Need” is another from-the-beach hip-hop/pop endeavor. The lyrics come a little faster here as we learn why “the only drug we need is each other.” The singing style reminds me a bit of old school R&B, like Boyz II Men, but Tino’s unique tone remains top and present. With a spoken word interlude, effects and electronic environments painting vast, sun-baked beaches, “The Only Drug We Need” is a catchy testimonial to new, and hopefully lasting, love.
“Fantastic” begins with more standard acoustic instrumentation, and takes an almost Beatles-esque turn with the fab five’s familiar lamenting chords.The voice also borrows a bit from that hovering and psychedelic emotional weight, but transitions to a more straight-talking rap with perfect flow and hopeful cadence. This is one hell of a musical swerve, and an absolute success. GREAT track, and my personal favorite.
Album closer “Sinderella” begins with acoustic guitar and Tino’s pure, expressive voice. This is a brief, personal, nearly acappella ending that truly appreciates the healing power of a fully invested lover/partner/significant other. It’s touching, no-nonsense, and sung utilizing a lower tone and perhaps less processing – a combination of feeling, style, and sparsity that produces something truly genuine. Excellent closer, boys.
But is it good?
If you like the sounds of modern music/pop/hip-hop but can’t abide the vacuousness, I implore you to listen to The Most from Black Astronaut Records. The instrumentation is tight, calm, and pleasantly environmental; the singing solid, expressive, personal, and not excessively overproduced. Basically, these guys are really feeling something, and so will you (because I sure did). Strooooongly recommended.
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BELOW: Listen to Black Astronaut Records and check them out on YouTube, Soundcloud, and Spotify. Please support Black Astronaut Records by visiting them online and playing, downloading, and/or purchasing their music. And, as always, thank you for supporting real music.
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