Rating: 5/5 stars
Being an elusive figure within the music industry is probably one of the hardest things to be, especially nowadays. Everyone is in possession of a camera, obsessed superfans are always going to be around, and privacy as a public figure is essentially nonexistent. However, for London born artist CASISDEAD (“Park Assist”), anonymity comes easy.
Since beginning his career in 2005, the alleged 37-year-old has maintained a mysterious image. Starting out under the name Castro Saint, he bounced around the local UK grime scene without appearing in any music videos or promo. After taking a five year break, he returned under a shortened version of his current moniker, simply going by CAS. The “dead” part came about a year and a half later. Along with the new name, came a new image. Every time CAS has been seen, he is wearing a mask. At first it was a metal skeleton-type mask, but since then it has evolved into an extremely realistic rubber one that for all anyone knows, might just be a mold of the man’s actual face. Much like his mask collection, the Englishman’s sound has gone through an evolution of its own.
Since the release of his first official mixtape, 2013’s “The Number 23,” the dead man from Tottenham has been known for his exploration of various genres, primarily grime and synthwave, with a sprinkle of traditional hip hop thrown in for good measure. But in recent years, he has seemed to tone down the violent, almost horrorcore-like undertones of his art, in favor of a more mature sound. His most popular track, “Pat Earrings,” is a prime example of that. The instrumental is dripping with ‘80s synth nostalgia, while CAS lays down lyrics professing his unrequited love for a lady of the night. The same track also serves as a single from the album, despite it being released all the way back in 2018. The funny thing is, “Pat” is not even the oldest song on the project. That distinction goes to his collaboration with UK based pop duo LATER (“Unicorn”), “Before This,” a slick and sensual ode to one night stands, which dropped in July 2016. Big gap aside, these two songs served as the perfect initial teasers for the full-length album. On “First Last Words,” CAS chooses to devote the entirety of the tracklist to tunes of a similar ilk. The other four singles come through with an old but gold vibe that can be found in the soundtrack of a vintage romance/action film. Of course that film would contain a truckload of debauchery and a whole lotta narcotics, but it would be romantic nonetheless.
The best representation of that description would have to be the somber, “Boys Will Be Boys,” which is for sure one of the best, if not the best song on the whole thing. This is an empathetic song, with CAS detailing a relationship he had with a fame-hungry young girl who sadly found herself being preyed upon by the shady figures involved in show business. As far as deep cuts go, the quality does not dip in the slightest, with tracks like “Actin’ Up” and “Marilyn” being standouts in that regard. Even with all of that out of the way, the million-dollar question still remains was the wait worth it? Yes, it was.
With “Famous Last Words,” CASISDEAD proves that quality over quantity is definitely the way to go. Let us just hope that another 10 years does not have to pass before we get another musical offering from the guy.
Image from CASISDEAD via YouTube.com
