Out today from Boston-based artist R.M. Hendrix, “Drugs” intertwines trip-hop rhythmic dexterity with grimily hypnotic instrumentation. Spacey synths and buzzing bass with a particular atmospheric power at the mid-point, following a steady vocal presence that remarks “it’s a crime,” how one pays for life-saving pills/drugs — a relevant swipe at the profit-gouging Big Pharma overlords. “Drugs” represents side A of a double-single taking inspiration from news headlines.
Hendrix, and many others, find good reason to be appalled at these profit-first disgraces, who raise prices of life-saving medicine without a care for anything beyond profit. “The Authority’s response is to pressure the people who need the drugs, not the makers. The pushers get a few slaps. Sacklers and Shkreli get the headlines. But your parents, grandma and neighbor are the ones really paying for it.”
“I hope the drugs you got were cheap,” his vocals quiver to start, set amidst nocturnal synth textures and a sonar-like trickling. The eventual percussive briskness plays with added vigor alongside the consistent vocal tone, fading out in the second half as eerie synth tones envelop. “Drugs” is a standout from R.M. Hendrix, capturing Big Pharma’s destructive evils with atmospheric precision.
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This and other tracks featured this month can be streamed on the updating Obscure Sound’s ‘Best of August 2023’ Spotify playlist.
We discovered this release via MusoSoup, as part of the artist’s promotional campaign.
