Release Date: January 20th, 2012
Little can be found about Blazo from a simple Google search, and the Polish export leaves everything up for interpretation in the instrumental journey that is Reflections. Yet despite the absence of words, the music speaks volumes as it is. A simple message on the Blazo Bandcamp page reads that Reflections is, “… an album which is a continuation of Alone Journey. Have been inspired by a great man and my master—Jujabesl. I hope you’ll like my thoughts and reflections, as I give you them in this piece of music.”
The album starts off with the appropriately titled “New Beginning,” which has a slow symphonic build that gradually turns into a smooth, head-nodding, hi-hat beat. With a simple piano sample added to it, the opening track is a great table-setter.
The Latin-inspired “The Influence” follows that with Spanish guitars and sweeping, reverse key waves. A comfortable rhythm sets in with a dual-guitar approach and eventually, a little something for all the flute lovers out there.
On the instrumentally dominated album, only guests Nieve, CL and 49ers add words to Blazo’s reflections. “Heartbeat” kicks a flow reminiscent of “Kick, Push”-era Lupe Fiasco. Blazo brings a simple drum pattern and piano break beat into play for Nieve to get his backpack on. CL chimes in on “Notes,” a laid-back, early 2000-type beat that finds the guest kicking some optimistic bars. “When opportunity knocks, son, you best be ready. … Growing up’s a hard thing,” he says, to enlighten the youth from America to Poland. 49ers appear on two tracks: “Dock Ellis” and “Pressure.” The duo continues the theme of looking far beneath the surface, trading positive rhymes for horns and strings.
The rest of Reflections is a lot more of the same, never really breaking from the mold of simplistic inner examination. There are tracks such as “Metamorphosis” and title track “Reflections” that push the tempo a bit, but most fall into the soothing, laid-back category like “Improvise,” which incorporates a little Bollywood, and closing track “Rising.” Not that it’s a bad thing: the album feels like a long, relaxing hookah session, but there’s just not a lot of variation. If someone is looking for a solid collection of instrumentals to vibe out to, but also keep things on a level path, Reflections could be the answer.
Blazo – Reflections tracklist:
- “New Beginning”
- “The Influence”
- “Heartbeat” (featuring Nieve)
- “Reality Check”
- “Lucid Dream”
- “Dock Ellis” (featuring 49ers)
- “Flute Story Two”
- “Reflections”
- “Notes” (featuring CL)
- “Metamorphosis”
- “Little Piano Two”
- “Cure”
- “Pressure” (featuring 49ers)
- “Improvise”
- “Rising”
