There is always a part of me that feels uneasy whenever I write about an artist’s music. This is especially so with 8.bliss – I feel like nothing I can say about his album will truly do it justice. I believe that a work of art should be approached with an empty mind – without any preconceived ideas about what it is “supposed” to be. And here I am telling you what to think about “A Train of Events.” With this in mind, I’ll do my best to describe this piece of auditory artwork by 8.bliss and company.

Hip-Hop, spoken word, poetry, philosophy, spirituality, life. These labels are less useful when you hear something that is a mix of all of these things. Sometimes a verbal diary, sometimes a message, sometimes rational, and always thoughtful. 8.bliss lyrics could stand on their own, without music and without a speaker. This is pretty uncommon today, when kindergarten rap often hits platinum. The 32-page lyric book is available for the more visually oriented – you might call “A Train of Events” something like ‘hip-hop poetry’. I’m stricken by the openness and honesty of this album. Throughout the album, 8.Bliss wrestles with inner turmoils, while always recognizing his own weaknesses. A gift for clear and direct communication makes this man a refreshing change of atmosphere. I noticed an odd but sincere request that is printed on the back of every cd: “Please, at least once, lie on your back headphones on, and listen to this recording in it’s entirety.” To me, this shows that we have a man who is after something else besides the usual (American) dream: fame, dough, women, etc. Clear your mind and listen closely.

More at: Omnipresent Records