First turning heads at a 2017 poetry night, Beirut-based group, Taxi 404, have released their long awaited debut EP. The hip-hop/pop fusing trio of Amin Zorkot (vocals/songwriting), Andy Rustom (guitar/vocals/songwriting) and Hanna Yazbeck (drums/percussions) have, over the last few years, garnered plenty of fans through their frequent performances in Lebanon’s capital city - but their new EP, Vortex-404, showcases a much richer sound that goes beyond the boundaries of hip-hop and pop.
The French-language band have cited a wide range of influences that include everyone from French-Caribbean singer and comedian, Henri Salvador, to the American post-punk, The Strokes. The four-track EP combines elements from jazz, blues and R&B and uses a vocal style that incorporates elements of spoken word poetry, similar to bands like Tank and the Bangas, albeit on a decidedly more chill soundscape. Though velvety vocals and intricate melodies make for a smooth listen for the first three tracks, things take a distinct turn in the fourth. Made in collaboration with friends and fellow Beirut-based group, Pomme Rouge, ‘Motifs’ is a considerably more hastened song, with the spoken word vocals making way for a more chant-based delivery against Pomme Rouge’s house and techno-tinted track.
