Ceschi – Broken Bone Ballads

New Haven indie folk and experimental hip hop artist Ceschi is one of those rare songsmiths whose efforts are much like a demolition crew unapologetically tearing down the walls of genre segregation. Simultaneously, they are also the architects and construction workers that design and build decidedly more diverse neighborhoods of sound there. This is especially evident on his brand new album, Broken Bone Ballads, throughout the songs on which, with the help of producer/beatmaker Factor Chandelier, Ceschi plays his acoustic guitar and reminisces, philosophizes, expresses profound thought and strong feelings, spills personal confessions, and makes keen observations about the world humankind has shaped for itself. And these conveyances are made all the more effective by his vocal delivery, which moves from true and very capable singing to flowing, well-composed raps and then back again.

 

Of course, this is the sort of music that can possibly drive folk purists crazy. But for those with more adventurous musical tastes, this is probably a gem worth discovering. Being this type of artist is what makes Ceschi get away with not only combining acoustic guitar with synth, beats and samples, and singing with rapping, but also making Thundercats, Jack Kerouac and NWA references on the same album, and it all just happens seamlessly and makes sense.