Album Review: Ferris Blusa - And That's When I Saw Gawd

Ferris Blusa

And That's When I Saw Gawd

***and1/2 out of *****

For his album And That's When I Saw Gawd, the New Orleans based hip hop artist Ferris Blusa partnered with the Madison, WI based producer Observe Since 98 to craft a full length flowing album that thematically holds together questioning televangelism, religion and more. 

After a brief opening sample, setting the scene by highlighting preachers with perhaps not the holiest of spirits in mind, the duo drop the excellent "He Who Remains". The track uses strong backing vocals braggadocio lyrics from Blusa and a "Love is Healing" message to support his rhymes, which seems much more effective than the grifting preachers sampled throughout the album. The excellent track shows off this pairings strengths. 

"Since I Saw You" starts out with capitalistic preaching before layered bass lines and beats bump forward around warbling synths in exciting fashion while "Made It Out Fine" has easy guitar flowing sounds around Blusa's tough rhymes, working well as a salty/sweet juxtaposition between vocals and music. The ominous huge beats of "False Prophets" is frightening as Blusa verbally flex's around screechy guitars. 

"Bible Study Freestyle" is less successful as it seemingly merges two songs into one with the second half soul sample feeling added on. "Faith In Me" is excellent though as Observe Since 98 mixes warbling, bumping, easy flowing musical backing, supporting Blusa's rhymes, adding some true soul to the effort. The finale of "Devilvangelist Entry 2" uses more samples of preachers flaunting wealth and in an age of singles, brief tunes and one off ideas, credit should be given to the duo for crafting a musical/lyrical concept album and delivering throughout. 

The albums art direction by Pablo Thunder and cover and artwork by Dallas Van De Vorst are eye catching, memorable and fit with the records theme. And That's When I Saw Gawd is a strong, thought provoking, cohesive release from Ferris Blusa and Observe Since 98. 

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