Hyperpotamus makes going it alone sound incredible...
There was once a time when the a 'one man band' would conjure the cumbersome image of Dick Van Dyke stumbling around mongering his iconically terrible cockney twang. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 21st century... things have moved on quite a bit. Hyperpotamus is the one man band of today who will put the Mary Poppins interpretation to shame.
The London-based Spaniard is a multi-vocal solo artist who will quite frankly, blow your mind. Latest release Delta would sound engagingly fresh irrespective of its production process, but when you do find out a little more about that it takes your listening experience to a completely different level. Using only his voice and his insane ability to multi-task, Hyperpotamus- a.k.a Jorge Ramirez-Escudero- produces beats, harmonies and vast textural soundscapes that are both innovative and capable of capturing your imagination. With each track of Delta you become so involved in trying to identify the different layers of loops and sounds- as well as trying to fathom the level of creativity needed to implement such an artistic venture.
If you thought that the 'novelty' factor of such an approach may have a limited lifespan, go hang your head in shame. It's amazing how different Hyperpotamus manages to sound with each new song. While stand-out track Seahorse for Dragon has vocal touches akin to Rufus Wainright and an Idiotpilot-style artistic edge, you're then led into cheeky attitude of Sailboat that's more reminiscent of Twelve Stone Toddler's mannerisms. Electroclash is an astonishing exploration of the digital sound through the most analogue means possible, just as Monthly Airborne Commuter displays an amazing ability to create a sense of movement and pace. When the scope of creative diversity couldn't seem more obtuse, you hear some native Spanish lyrics thrown into the mix with the fiery latin passion of a flamenco dance in a furnace. It would seem that by returning to the purest form of making music the possibilities are endless.
Everything affiliated to Hyperpotamus culture commands nothing short of endearment and intrigue. The beautiful simplicity of the ideology in contrast with the mind-bogglingly complex system of its creation makes Delta a record deserving of great respect; but the fact that the rhythm and grooves showcased are so irresistible just makes it an even greater discovery. Having found some videos of his live performances online, we can't wait to go see this guy 'play' live.