At long last, Alive Since Forever artist MiC Kurb has returned from a brief hiatus to release a new single alongside ASF brethren Kevin Abstract. “Always On Time” marks a departure from the overarching darkness on Kurb’s short yet promising EP, Destination Nowhere, which dropped this past March. In place of sparse shakers and aired out layers of sound (each instrument on project highlight “Speak My Mind” occupies its own distinct space in the mix) is an uplifting spread of harmonic chords more in line with Abstract’s MTV1987 album.
“Old school summers, we was sippin’ on Henny/Chasin’ bad women I ain’t really have many,” Kurb raps, leaning on the edge of sing-song delivery as his honesty pervades each line.
The ode to Ja Rule and Ashanti’s record of the same name significantly raises MiC’s ceiling, showcasing an ear for melodic stacking never proven on his aforementioned project; the background vocals alone—a hodgepodge of male and female ad-lib croons and echoes—add a fullness to the track rarely seen on that EP. Abstract’s aiding presence on the hook, jungle-esque shakes and snaps reminiscent of Billy Joel’s “River of Dreams” and poetic lyricism brew a subtly brilliant single. Kurb has certainly turned a new stylistic page, but we’ll welcome it if it means more material in this vein.
Stream and download “Always On Time” below; follow Kurb and Abstract on Twitter. Read our review of Kevin’s phenomenal free album, MTV1987, here.