All genres follow the same sort of evolutionary flow. Core artists define a sound; others copy it, and over time, those who follow move away from the signature sound. So much so that many years down the line, it is almost impossible to trace the complex sonic lines and weave of influences that make up an artist’s musical DNA. And that is certainly true of Son of Dior and his new album Vienna: a suit of songs for which you pretty much have to invent new genres and labels to describe its sounds. (Always something that keeps us journos happy.)
Take ‘Valentina Mnt,’ the first song proper on the album. Dark and brooding, running on bass pulses and an array of haunting voices, it wouldn’t be too much of a leap to describe this as gothic-rap. And that sense that although this might be music informed by earlier rap and hip-hop pioneers continues with the minimal piano and classical sweeps blended with the tribal drum patterns of ‘Nightfall.’
‘Falso Amor’ highlights the album’s sense of difference, its progressive nature, and its sense of adventure. Neo-soul foundations carry a rap delivery that feels less connected to the traditional history of hip-hop and sounds more like the genre evolved in an African township, absorbing local rhythms, attitudes, and storytelling rather than emerging from the social unrest of the 1970s South Bronx. It gives the song a welcome, left-field and more worldly-wise rhythmic identity, soulful without being overly polished.
‘Escape to Vienna’ takes a much rougher route. This is grunge-hop: raw, distorted, and big, with a roaring intensity that gives the track the feeling of a runaway train. The production choices show that this is a place where rawness and noise are acceptable choices, allowing the edges to fray rather than smoothing everything into contemporary perfection.
Then comes ‘Erase Me’, a complete change of temperature. Balladic and soul-searching, it begins in serene territory before being pierced by searing sonics and falsetto crescendos. Huge bass shockwaves and increasingly bombastic textures turn what might have been a straightforward soul ballad into something much more cinematic and emotionally charged.
And then, almost unexpectedly, “See You in Vienna” brings things to a close with a sweet and simple sign-off.
Vienna ultimately feels like an artist refusing to choose between his influences. It is soulful, abrasive, melodic, and experimental in equal measure, finding its identity in the spaces where genres collide rather than where they comfortably settle.