Rating: NNNN
As creepy and murky as the Weeknd’s triple-album debut, Trilogy, was, it seems executive producer Illangelo has a lot more dark weirdness inside him just waiting to get out. The Toronto producer has many eyes on him right now, not only because of that aforementioned work, but also because of remix and production jobs for Drake, Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J, Florence and the Machine and Lady Gaga. History Of Man, however, is neither a pop nor a hip-hop album it’s grimy off-kilter electronic music coming from way out of left field.
Officially, Illangelo’s debut full-length is a sci-fi concept album based on John Milton’s Paradise Lost that supposedly has some visual aspect, too. (Review materials only included the audio.) But those aspects seem tacked on and unnecessary. The music itself is more than substantial enough to carry the project. It’s atmospheric but also brutally raw, immediate and consistently surprising. Disconcertingly uneasy listening, in the best way possible.
Top track: Chapter 1: One Dreamy Hum
