CARL KAVORKIAN – “SERPEPHANT ELENTINE”

Hailing from the USA, producer and MC Carl Kavorkian follows up the spectacular “The Happiest Sad Face” with a story of two parts in “SerpePhant EleNtine”. Released as two separate EP’s, both come together as one, taking the listener on a journey through Carl’s love of hip hop with a touch of heavier vocals here and there.

While the two EP’s were released separately, they soon became available as a joint effort and work well as a complete album. Part One comes in the form of “SerpePhant” and kicks things off with some old-school beats on “ReapEat”, production kept relatively simple allowing Carl Kavorkian to spit out the rhymes.

The first track is followed by the more hectic “MateriaLies”, before “CystDumb” is one of several to feature Kavorkian adding backing vocals, barked out in a style that will appeal to fans of Death Grips.  The “SerpePhant” EP then concludes with more of the old-style hip hop, the focus back on some serious production and words that flow seamlessly.

SerpePhant

If anything, when it comes to part two “EleNtine” has Carl Kavorkian changing his Death Grips vocals for more of a hardcore metal scream. The passion for guitar based music becomes more apparent as the EP goes on. With song titles, such as “ThangCue” and “WhoreMoans”, the chances are you’ve also noted how Carl loves a play on words. This doesn’t however distract from some great performances, “AlterNatives” for example playing off two sets of vocals against each other.

There are more intriguing samples before “PoorTense” captures Carl Kavorkian at his best, switching between rapper and angry rock star. It’s no wonder then this track has been given the video treatment, with the MC fading in and out of the screen in a ghostlike fashion.

EleNtine

Overall this isn’t necessarily a release for the hip-hop purists, especially when the first half of “SerpePhant EleNtine“ ends with the guitar laden “DeafEye”, but either way you will soon find yourself screaming along to the words “the number 12 looks just like you”.

Lyrically Carl Kavorkian touches on subject matters such as American Congress, oppression and self-questioning.  It’s much darker and personal than most commercial rap music, making it a lot more honest, a quality that also comes across in the production. As for fellow lovers of old school MC’s, then I’m in no doubt Kavorkian could battle it out with the best of them.