There’s quite a few phrases and proverbs that are
attributed to being in the position to learn the rules
and then going beyond them. One artist who has
chosen to move in that vein is 16 Knapper(16
Buttons). The Bergen, Norway native has chosen
to do so via crafting instrumentals that take the
listener into their own journey of tearing down to
be renewed. His prime influences of hip-hop, graffiti
and skateboarding are the base of the music found
on his debut CD, Astral.
Astral is lithe for an instrumental effort as far as the
length of tracks are concerned, but 16 Knapper has
made each track their own lingering moment to fit
together nicely. ‘Asteria’ gives off an air of the
nocturnal, the track coasting without any real heft
but still pulling you in. ‘Time Machine’ is deceptive
dub-step in a way with the bridge change taking you
from airiness to something trippy and fun. And just
in time for the World Cup, there’s even a rousing
and chill ode to one of the great modern footballers
in ‘Return Of The King’(Leo Messi)’. For a debut,
Astral is an intriguing origin point for 16 Knapper
who looks to keep bending and breaking beats and
perceptions in subtle ways. The album is now
available at his Bandcamp page.
www.16knapper.bandcamp.com
www.twitter.com/16knapper