“The album teeters on the line between cloud-rap and old school southern hip-hop in a way that will keep you tuned in and bobbing your head, from beginning to end.” –CLTure

Spaceman Jones and The Motherships – Vol. 2 drops today! The duo celebrate locally with a release show on March 3rd at Ellington Underground, and a sprinkling of regional shows in Atlanta, Johnson City and Charlotte to follow.

Having both come up in the boom bap classic era of hip-hop, in the then-sleepy Southern town of Asheville, NC, the duo effectively pays homage to their musical roots on the second installment of Spaceman Jones and The Motherships, with additional instrumentation provided by RBTS’ Javier Francisco Bolea. Densely layered vinyl samples and analogue warmth of Worsham’s production allow for space and creative phrasing, both of which Bristol weaves into his rhymes steeped in urban wisdom and sharply-edged humor. The record explores the underbelly of human nature and society, addressing the breaking of cycles that ravage generations when left unchecked, but also shines a positive light that hints change is possible. Bristol raps, “Now or later people got to get together / when we do the world is ours” on “Make a Slaughter”, a dark six-eight swagger that relates the familiar tale of cultural descent into materialism and constant pursuit and worship of money, while the instrumental nods to church bells in a hypnotic march. More aggressive beats on tracks like “Monster Mash” lend urgency to Bristol’s driving hustle, “I plan to be up for a long time / you figure any different you done lost your mind / grinding ain’t optional / anything possible / you better live with passion / don’t settle for no less not a fraction.”

The second movement of the record adds a chill-hop / soul-gaze vibe with fat downtempo beats and lush, melodic guitar licks, with Bristol’s vocals wrapping in, around and on the beats in his characteristically playful flow. “You got real goals so don’t ever settle / I got goals to make my soul and the outside the same / I want to show these niggas how you supposed to grow from the game,” he rhymes against airy synth lines on “Wavy In The Night.” Cinematic interludes serve to open, segue and close the album, making it a real sonic journey from beginning to end, with twists and turns carried on gritty beats and intelligent, thought provoking themes.

Spaceman Jones and The Motherships Tour Dates:

3/3/18 – Ellington Underground – Asheville, NC
3/9/18 – Aisle 5 – Atlanta, GA – (with Devin the Dude)
3/30/18 – The Hideaway – Johnson City, TN
4/2/18 – Knockturnal – Charlotte, NC

Stream The ‘Spaceman Jones & The Motherships, Vol. 2’ #Album (@RBTSWIN @AndSpaceman)

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