Album Review: Haji Rana Pinya – Flowers EP (2009)

2/11/09 | By Zach Cole | 1 Comment

Album Review Haji Rana Pinya – Flowers EP (2009)
Rating: 4 out of 5 Potholes

After a few years working with Dumhi, the Okayplayer-formed hip-hop group, producer Haji Rana Pinya steps out to release the powerful 30-minute Flowers EP. Flowers works on many levels. It evokes a somewhat soulful vibe, yet cannot be classified as a soul record. There is certainly a strong presence of more left-field hip-hop production, yet it would not be classified as a left-field hip-hop record either. Part of the appeal of Flowers is that stylistically it fuses so many influences, which blend together with a pleasant ease, providing an overall unique, fresh approach.

The production style here revolves largely around quirky samples – some spoken (check the lines from HBO’s True Blood series), some just from music genres not even close to hip hop – and a solid set of smoothed out instrumentals. Lyrically, verses are traded between numerous guests including emcees from Dumhi, and a few singers even leave meaningful, provoking appearances as well. On the first listen, it is evident that there is an unusually large amount of emotion to be extracted as a story-like narrative unfolds, depicting the downfall of a troubled couple. The struggle and strife are topically obvious, but upon further listening, it becomes apparent that there are much darker and hard-hitting forces at work – Flowers is certainly no walk-in-the-park album.

Musically, this album is challenging. Not in the sense that it is unpleasant to listen to (in fact, the exact opposite is true), but it is challenging in an intellectual sense. The ominous overhaul and messages force the individual to dig deep inside themselves for a heavy dose of self-examination and reflection. Flowers is one of those records that is not simply heard, but is experienced. The melodious voices have a sort of haunting after effect, and the fact that all of this emotion is created in a half-hour EP is remarkable.
ratingfourkc1 Album Review: Haji Rana Pinya Flowers EP (2009)