Bridge of Sand. by Bridge of Sand.

As the economy moves back into recession, music writers have been quick to highlight the return of “recession pop,” the high-octane, maximalist pop sound that defined the 2008 recession and has reappeared on some recent pop hits. However, today’s culture differs in several key ways from that of the last major recession, and the strange, hypnotic hip hop of Bridge of Sand. by Bridge of Sand. exaggerates these changes to the point of absurdity. Though the end product diverges dramatically from those 2008 bangers, most of those key elements remain, such as energetic samples, explosive percussion, and memorable hooks. However, these elements appear completely deconstructed, strewn across the uncomfortably vast sonic space, invoking the spirit of gothic horror more so than of an opulent party. Unlike in 2008, this recession largely won’t be coped with in clubs, in bars, on beaches, or even in person at all, as all signs point to the continued decline of every type of social forum. Recession pop may be back, but without anywhere to enjoy it with others, there’s really no point.