EQUIKNOXX – ETERNAL CHILDREN [EQUIKNOXX MUSIC]

On ​Eternal Children​, “forward thinking music group” ​Equiknoxx, ​comprising of – (​Shanique Marie, Bobby Blackbird, Gavsborg, Kemikal Splash & Time Cow) ​do something they have never done before: express themselves as a collective.
For the better part of a dancehall decade, producers ​Gavin “Gavsborg” Blair ​and ​Nick “Bobby Blackbird” Deane ​have created a who’s who list of collaborations including Aidonia, Busy Signal, Masicka, Kabaka Pyramid, Spice, Beenie Man & Missy Elliott; while ​Jordan “Time Cow” Chung​ and Gavsborg have scored numerous ‘Album of the Year’ accolades from publications such as FACT, Pitchfork, The FADER, Passion Of The Weiss & Rolling Stone with their ​Bird Sound Power​ and ​Colón Man releases parsed and pieced by Demdike Stare & Jon K for Demdike Stare’s DDS imprint.

Eternal Children​ however is the result of five (5) creative forces combined to form the group ​Equiknoxx​. Three​ ​producer/vocalists (Blair/Chung/Deane) combine with two (2) vocalists: ​Shanique Marie​ and Kemikal ​for a comprehensive family affair. Shanique Marie’s debut EP “Uno” was produced by Gavsborg & Bobby Blackbird while the lyricist Kemikal’s only previous solo foray “Graffiti” was handled exclusively by Chung. ​Eternal Children​ represents the synthesis of ideas as the group created the album in typical organic style, recording half of it in a single session at the legendary Anchor studios in Kingston, Jamaica.

The resulting eight track effort is as eclectic as the collective; spanning experimental and classic dancehall, hip hop and even a ballad, all while staying true to the unique sound they have become known for. From abstract sound and astral storytelling from Kemikal and Shanique Marie on the opening track ​Solomon Is A Cup​, the pace jumps several notches on the energetic ode to the borough of Brooklyn​. Shanique Marie returns to the dancehall lashing line after line on the Riddim driven ​Corner​ and takes the lead once more on a tribute to the city of Manchester (fast becoming a second home to the group). The track also features Swing Ting lyrical heavyweight ​Fox ​and was co-produced by the younger brother of Gavsborg: ​Brent Blair aka Brent Bird​.

Side C sees Time Cow on the buttons for ​Good Sandra​ complemented by the pen of a witty Kemikal & Gavsborg plus the suave of a cool Shanique Marie. ​Move Along​ performed by Shanique Marie & Time Cow is a sub 150bpm belter that was conceptualized somewhere in Eastern Europe prior to an Equiknoxx Live Set. Both tracks are reminiscent of the hard hitting off-kilter rhythms of ​Bird Sound Power and ​Colón Man​ with vocals that could only be delivered by those intimately familiar with the psychedelic offerings. In keeping the family close, longtime Equiknoxx collaborator ​Alozade ​makes a feature appearance alongside Kemikal & Gavsborg on the penultimate ​Grave​: a dark assault on the senses. Eternal Children​ closes with the soothing ​Rescue Me,​ a duet with Blackbird and Shanique Marie that occasionally trespasses into a pseudo-pop territory.

Eternal Children​ represents a new direction for the collective, venturing into parts unknown. They are not totally alone on the journey as several familiar faces were key in the release of the project: ​Karen Cazabon​ (Sleeve design), ​Rub-A-Dub ​(Distributor), ​Mothashipp​ (Mixing) and ​Nick Sinna​ (Mastering). The cover art was done by ​Bobby Blackbird​ himself. The direction of the entire project would have been an impossible task without the guidance of ​Balraj Samrai​ of Swing Ting Records.

Tracklist:

01 – Solomon iS a Cup
02 – Brooklyn
03 – Corner
04 – Manchester Feat. Brent Bird & Fox 05 – Good Sandra
06 – Move Along
07 – Grave Feat. Alozade
08 – Rescue Me