Quadeca has long been one of the most compelling musicians working today. He started out as a YouTube rapper, then kept broadening his musical palate. He has released several highly ambitious, concept-driven records with cinematic storytelling. life 1 is the definitive entry point into Quadeca's catalogue. Having fully mastered electronic production, he takes an art-pop direction on life 1, with more tenderness and more humour. Quadeca is still eccentric, but now he's endearing too.
As a long-time listener, I never doubted his production ability. But the immersive atmospheres of his earlier, hugely ambitious work, such as the chamber folk and glitch pop, are completely gone on life 1. The album feels more like Quadeca building his own little universe inside a laptop. What's lost is the immersion. What's gained is a personal charm he's never had before.
life 1 is undoubtedly Quadeca's most accessible record, and it fully showcases his production skill. The seemingly DIY production shows its playfulness (for example, "Hell of a Time"), then startles you with finely crafted detail (for example, "Baby Steps"). In terms of musical instinct, Quadeca now moves between restraint and release with complete ease.
Watch Quadeca’s single “Baby Steps”:
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