Greentea Peng, RISING, EP Review
Greentea Peng
RISING
EP Review
I struggle to remember exactly how I discovered R&B underdog from London, known as Greentea Peng. However, I remember clearly that when I did, I became instantly interested in her indulgent and lo-fi musical style.
This little project comes as Greentea's second EP, following her 2018 effort Sensi. RISING was teased by the warm and hazey single "Mr. Sun (miss da sun)" which I found both very enjoyable, and also seasonably appropriate.
Fast-forward to the full EP, and what we have to listen to is a 6 track piece which lasts roughly 18 minutes. It's the kind of duration that one would expect from an EP, so on that front, I have no quarrel.
This EP begins with "Risin'" which is what I assume to be a pseudo-title track. It has a somewhat energetic pace which feels appropriate when trying to kick off an EP right. However, it pleased me that the fluidity of the instrumentation carries the track away from being too loud and non-indulgent, which would otherwise prevent the first track from making sense musically when comparing it to the remainder of the EP. In short, you get the best of both worlds with "Risin'", as it somehow carries qualities of being both an energetic and relaxing track.
The following two tracks, "Inna City" and "Saturn" are also, unfortunately, my two least favourite tracks on the EP. Both of them do indeed continue to carry through that hazy aesthetic, but thats about it with these two songs. They both just feel very subtle and lo-fi without having any musical qualities between them that really stick with me. As a result, I found both of these tracks to be rather unmemorable, and two of the weaker songs on this EP.
Following these two is the previously mentioned "Mr. Sun (miss da sun)", which has a very catchy vocal flow, and a brilliant use of subtle saxophone melodies to further the summer-like aesthetic. It is indeed a very enjoyable track to listen to.
However, the next track, "Sane", is arguably even better. It is certainly one of the more upbeat songs on RISING. I love how the whistles and various percussion on this track really push a natural aesthetic through to the listener very expertly.
The EP's final track "Liberation" is an appropriate reversion to a softer style, which I feel is a nice way to wind the EP down. Despite being equally as soft as tracks two and three, it's not nearly as dull. I'd say this track is comparable to the better material on Sampa The Great's The Return.
While writing this review for Greentea's second EP, I went ahead and also had a brief listen to her first. It's fair to say that both efforts definitely have their differences.
While I'd say that RISING is much less experimental than Sensi, it is also far more refined and well-layered. In conclusion, either one could impress you more than the other, depending on your personal taste. But I would still say I prefer RISING, and claim it to be a step in the right direction for the future of the discography of Greentea Peng.
If you are searching for a chilled record to listen to in the comfort of your own home, then RISING, and also Greentea Peng in general, is totally for you.
Thank you for reading,
Booth Boy
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