[REVIEW] ABBA-CONDA X4XX : LaZy EyE (Album)

 ABBA-CONDA X4XX - LaZy EyE (Album)

Emerging artist ABBA-CONDA X4XX has just released LaZy EyE, an album featuring 9 soulful RnB tracks that delve into deeply personal stories. With themes of love, faith, and life, the album offers a reflective and intimate listening experience, showcasing the artist's unique perspective and emotional depth.

Track 1: Demonstration / Feel

The album opens with a track steeped in a glitchy, lo-fi atmosphere, immediately setting a reflective and emotionally rich tone. The use of CRT TV static, vinyl crackle, and ambient distortion evokes a nostalgic sense of place—like flipping through old memories on a worn-out cassette tape. Layered over this textured backdrop is a smooth, old-school R&B influence that adds warmth and soul to the otherwise fragmented sonic environment.

The lyrics delve into themes of emotional pain, inner struggles, and the weight of life's hardships, touching on experiences that feel universally relatable. There's a vulnerability in both the vocal delivery and production choices that enhances the rawness of the track. Rather than masking the imperfections, the production embraces them—each crackle and glitch adding character and reinforcing the themes of brokenness and healing.

As an opener, this track is a powerful choice. It doesn’t just introduce the album—it draws the listener into a world where every sound and word holds meaning. The emotional depth combined with the immersive soundscape creates a dynamic and introspective entry point, setting a strong foundation for the journey that follows.

Track 2: Cooked

The second track on the album, “Cooked,” features a collaboration with Fortitude USA, a fellow artist known for their contributions to the genre and a familiar sonic signature. This song shifts the energy slightly, introducing a more upbeat and laid-back groove, anchored by a smooth, rolling bassline that subtly interacts with the lush chordal pads—creating a kind of musical call and response that flows effortlessly throughout the track.

Clocking in as the longest song on the album, “Cooked” uses its extended runtime to craft a steady, unfolding narrative. The lyrics reflect a feeling of constant pressure and endurance, capturing the sense of being tested or challenged on a daily basis—whether mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. There’s a quiet resilience in the delivery, giving the track a grounded, introspective tone beneath its more relaxed exterior.

Fortitude USA’s feature complements the mood beautifully, adding texture and depth through both vocal and instrumental presence. The overall production allows space for the story to breathe, making “Cooked” feel like a reflective exhale after the raw emotion of the opening track—a moment of clarity in the chaos.

Track 3: &$tr!ch

“&$tr!ch”, the third track on the album, introduces a fresh twist to the evolving sonic landscape. This song takes a more experimental turn vocally, featuring airy falsetto lines in the hook that contrast with the quick-paced, rhythmic rap delivery of the verses. This duality creates a compelling interplay between smoothness and intensity, adding another dimension to the album’s emotional and musical range.

Despite this shift in vocal style, the overall vibe of the track remains chill and grounded, maintaining the relaxed tone established by earlier songs. The production blends these elements cohesively, allowing the falsetto and rapid-fire bars to sit comfortably within the track’s layered textures. “&$tr!ch” seamlessly continues the album’s unfolding themes of introspection and resilience, showcasing the artist’s ability to explore new territory while staying true to the core atmosphere of the project.

Track 4: Debra

"Debra" marks a significant shift in the album’s vocal and emotional tone, presenting a heartfelt, soul-baring performance that explores the complexities of a past relationship—presumably with someone named Debra. The track dives deep into the emotional highs and lows, uncovering both tender moments and the presence of dishonesty or façades within the connection. It's a vulnerable narrative that many listeners will find strikingly relatable.

Musically, "Debra" stands apart with its rich infusion of jazz elements, including the warm, expressive tones of a saxophone and the subtle presence of an organ, which together create a lush and soulful soundscape. These textures enhance the emotional weight of the lyrics, adding depth and sophistication to the storytelling.

Altogether, "Debra" not only showcases a powerful shift in vocal delivery but also broadens the sonic palette of the album—balancing raw vulnerability with a beautifully crafted, jazz-inflected arrangement.

Track 5: Times Have Changed

“Times Have Changed” reintroduces a laid-back, lo-fi atmosphere, serving as a reflective interlude within the album’s progression. While its tone is more subdued, the track still carries thoughtful storytelling elements, weaving in lyrical callbacks and thematic references to earlier songs—most notably “Debra.” These subtle nods create a sense of continuity and emotional depth, allowing the listener to pause and reflect while still remaining engaged in the overarching narrative of the album. It’s a well-placed moment of calm that adds texture and cohesion to the listening experience.

Track 6: Stunt In’

“Stunt In’” begins with a surprising podcast-style intro, which initially catches the listener off guard but quickly proves to be a clever and original creative choice. This unexpected opening adds a conversational, almost candid tone before transitioning seamlessly into the full track. Once the music kicks in, the song showcases impressive lyrical craftsmanship, with sharp wordplay and a strong rhythmic flow that complements the instrumental perfectly. The blend of experimental structure and lyrical finesse makes “Stunt In’” stand out as one of the more inventive and memorable tracks on the album.

Track 7: Lost Inside a Dream

Track 7, “Lost Inside a Dream,” marks a bold shift in tone for the album, stepping away from the laid-back lo-fi atmosphere established earlier and diving into a much darker, more intense sonic space. The track opens with an unexpected and striking introduction—possibly ambient or experimental in nature—which immediately grabs the listener’s attention and sets a mysterious, dreamlike tone.

As the beat drops, the song erupts with distorted, almost otherworldly vocals layered over pounding 808s and dense production. The heavy bass gives the track a powerful foundation, while the warped vocal delivery adds a raw emotional edge, conveying feelings of confusion, inner turmoil, or even existential anxiety. This sonic contrast is both jarring and refreshing, acting as a turning point in the album’s narrative arc.

“Lost Inside a Dream” successfully explores a more introspective and chaotic emotional state, using production as a storytelling tool. It’s a standout moment that challenges the listener’s expectations and adds depth and variety to the album’s overall soundscape.

Track 8: Hush

With “Hush,” we return to the soothing blend of gentle piano and lo-fi jazz elements that have become a signature throughout the album. The soft, mellow instrumental creates an intimate and reflective atmosphere, perfectly complementing the heartfelt themes explored in the lyrics.

This track delves into various forms of love and relationships—touching on romantic connection, emotional vulnerability, and perhaps even spiritual faith. One of the standout elements is the hook, which cleverly weaves in lines from the traditional lullaby “Hush, Little Baby.” This lyrical nod adds a deeper emotional layer, possibly referencing the nurturing bond between a parent and child, or symbolizing comfort and protection in a broader sense.

“Hush” is a beautifully constructed piece that blends nostalgic melodies with modern production, creating a song that feels both timeless and personal. It’s a standout moment of emotional warmth and tenderness, offering a gentle pause within the album’s broader emotional journey.

Track 9: October

The final track of the album serves as a fitting conclusion, revisiting sonic elements from earlier tracks like “Demonstration / Feel” and “Times Have Changed” to tie everything together. The track incorporates glitchy sounds and a distinctive drum beat that provides a sense of continuity while introducing a shift in vocal delivery. The vocals here stand apart from the rest of the album, adding a new dynamic that blends seamlessly with the song's electronic elements.

Lyrically, this track takes a deep, introspective turn, exploring themes of life, death, and faith. Phrases like “from dust to dust” and references to suicide, seasons passing, hell, and heaven create a powerful narrative that reflects on the transient nature of existence and the spiritual struggles we face. The weight of these themes resonates throughout the track, leaving the listener with a thought-provoking, emotional conclusion.

In its final moments, the song delivers a striking message that encapsulates the emotional journey of the album, offering closure while leaving room for reflection. The themes explored in this track provide a poignant end, leaving a lasting impact on the listener.

Overall

Throughout the album, listeners are invited into a deeply personal journey as the artist shares stories drawn from their own life—narratives that are honest, reflective, and often universally relatable. The lyrics carry a strong sense of introspection, touching on themes of love, pain, growth, and self-discovery, allowing listeners to connect with the music on an emotional level.

Sonically, the album offers a rich and varied landscape. From mellow, lo-fi-inspired tracks with gentle, ambient textures to more dynamic, beat-driven songs with heavier production, the instrumentals evolve alongside the emotions conveyed in each piece. This thoughtful diversity ensures that there’s something for everyone, whether you're drawn to soulful storytelling, smooth grooves, or powerful rhythmic energy.

Overall, the album is not just a collection of songs, but a cohesive and immersive experience—one that speaks to the heart and resonates long after the final track ends.

Listen to ABBA-CONDA X4XX’s music here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF9iLT8H5uv81-FEYBbW9b53TnIT_LKOy 

Written by Kole Cook

@Kolecookmusic