FROM THEN ‘TIL NOW: ALBUM REVIEW
Haich Ber Na’s newest project, From Then ‘til Now, begins with a metallic clanging of synths and drums before gliding into a groovy beat as Haich Ber Na’s vocals envelop the track. The song then proceeds to take you all over the musical spectrum, introducing you to lush synths, passages of drumless bliss, and the singer’s haunting voice. From Then ‘til Now effortlessly blends genres and styles like this on every track as Haich Ber Na crafts jagged landscapes and smooths them over with heavenly vocals and intonations. From Then ‘til Now is an exercise in the duality of sound.
Haich Ber Na’s entire career has been defined by genre-hopping evolution. It began with grime-like, dub-influenced instrumentals, but over the course of the last few years, his style has shifted to a bit of a cleaner sound. He described his music in the past as “doing Ty Dolla $ign impressions over weird beats,” and while that may have been true in 2019, his music has evolved so far past that point. While on previous albums, his vocals and the beat sounded like they were in two different worlds, on From Then ‘til Now he finds the balance that allows them to blend together.
From Then ‘til Now feels like an aural smoothie that incorporates the best parts of everyone involved. The song “Both Ways,” which features beautiful vocals from the singer RODEL, mixes delicate synths and vocalizations with a heavy distorted breakdown that makes you dance. Though, the spirit of grime and dub still resonates, even in the poppiest songs on the album. The chemistry of the two singers is also apparent as they trade off the line “you and me,” bouncing off each other and creating new vocal patterns.
The song “0594 Help” shows off the more experimental side of the project. It’s an absolutely all-encompassing banger that pushes the limits of the pop genre. Hair Ber Na’s vocals sharply contrast against the insane bass line and hard-hitting drums. All throughout the track, there are little musical flourishes, like the snapping of fingers and the arpeggiation towards the back-end of the track that takes it up another notch. These experimental flourishes are common across the album, working as little moments that build up to create something great.
From Then ‘til Now feels like more of a step on a larger journey than a complete statement. Coming in at just four tracks, it feels like there are a lot of ideas still left to be explored. Tracks like the album closer “Think About It” highlight a wealth of ideas but are executed conservatively. It feels like the high-pitched section in the middle of the track is about to break out into something bigger, but it falls a bit too much into a Blood Orange formula.
Overall, this project is an incredible taste and an exciting moment for Haich Ber Na. It pushes boundaries and makes you think, all while making you want to dance.