New Haven’s Ceschi Ramos challenges listeners to enter his world of inconvenient truths and dark social tales. In his brand new record Sans Soleil, Ceschi makes use of a full sonic arsenal: from alternative hip-hop verses that sting with precision to folk eulogies fit for gatherings by the porch light, it all delivers somber realities. Ceschi and his array of collaborators hold nothing back as they comment on today’s political tensions, state of the media, inner-city conditions, and how identity gets muddled in it all. Take a track like “Incesticide (feat. Open Mike Eagle, P.O.S, Onry Ozzborn, Factor Chandelier, Mo Niklz)” which showcases Ceschi and his collaborators alternating spitfire verses to the might of a percussive electronic beat, the back and forth recalling the glory of ‘80s hip-hop groups. “Christ on a Cross” by comparison is a heartfelt track that uses an acoustic guitar chord progression to tell an urban tale of religious ambiguity, the tragedy of faith exposed. The stories found in Sans Soleil hit hard, the way music should. Catch Ceschi Ramos at Middle East in Cambridge on September 1st. We are streaming “Yoni’s Electrocardiographs (feat. Yoni Wolf)” for you below. – Rene Cobar
