It is hard to find the right approach from which to listen to this latest effort from the hyped hip hop producer Clams Casino. The songs, for the most part, are intricate and skilfully produced, often using granular synthesis and disembodied loops that call to mind Oneohtrix Point Never and Balam Acab. But they are packaged with club-friendly beats and bass that make them more appropriate as backing tracks for artists like A$AP Rocky and Mac Miller.
At its best, this combination creates a vehicle for rich pieces of sound art to reach a wider audience. On the other hand, it can feel like the addition of a user-friendly beat can lower the value of a track’s more abstract elements. Lvl, first heard on Rocky’s Long. Live. A$AP, is a great demonstration of Clams’s knack for drawing interesting textures from looped samples, but cuts like Hell just feel half-baked and repetitive without a lead vocal over the top.
The main problem with Instrumentals Mixtape 3 is that Clams Casino’s versatility means it is hard to approach the mixtape as a singular, cohesive piece. Each track on its own can be appreciated for the skill and artistry with which it is built, but as a long player the songs just don’t gel enough to reward any type of listening beyond ambient background music, which, given the overall quality of the work, is a pity. However, as this has been announced as his final instrumental mixtape, perhaps we can look forward to a more focused release under the Clams Casino name in the near future.
BY PATRICK O’BRIEN
Best Track: Lvl.
If You Like These, You’ll Like This: ONEOHTRIX POINT NEVER, A$AP ROCKY, LIL B.
In A Word: Disharmonic.
