Songs for Lost Travellers by Confucius MC & Bastien Keb

In some ways, Songs for Lost Travellers by Confucius MC and Bastien Keb fulfills our core expectations of an introspective experimental rap album, using free-association lyrics and irregular song structures to communicate an existential crisis. However, at every turn this record offers us something unexpected to hoist itself to true left-field greatness. Remaining almost completely drumless throughout, instrumentals pull from a staggeringly diverse range of influences, from British folk guitars to free jazz flute to home-recorded choirs, all of which still feels immediate, approachable, and open enough to keep the record intimate. No matter what baggage you bring into this record, you will experience a message that feels hand-crafted just for you, a wide-reaching, horizontally-expanding narrative that encourages us to seek acceptance as an ultimate life goal. Taking a look at a world obsessed with technological revolution and engineered immortality, the record preaches through every outlet of its lyrics, delivery, and production a mindset of cool contentedness, of strolling through life to enjoy the view rather than engaging in the rat race.