Sooo this is going to be a sort of “DIY” album review, because there’s not one person reading this who isn’t capable of writing it themselves. Or maybe that’s “your” selves… because you’re all special, each and every one of you; and I have complete and total confidence in your receptive and expressive cognitive skills. I’m just offering an outlook on something from my own unique perspective and I’m happy that anyone’s gotten even this far.
Sooo if I may: I only just recently waded through Armageddon or something and it was some godamn awful bullshit. But you don’t have to care about that, because as is typically the case with any of my little apocalypses; I made it out without a scratch. And as is typically I suppose the case with any significantly larger apocalypse; I survived by dropping out, turning off, and killing time on the web looking for some relatively decent music.. and I fucking found it. As to the why, how, where, and whatever ‘twas drew me to this lush and deep soundscape? Landscape.. ?
SPECTRUM OF AWESOME ??
I guess “reason has no purpose here” also applies to how I found this utterly fucking beautiful art to make Armageddon that much more doable:
Maybe you don’t “find” music like this..
Maybe music like this FINDS YOU.
MAYBE THIS IS “PLANET U”
And maybe THIS is artist and producer extraordinaire MEREBA
Definitely: The Jungle is the Only Way Out is the newest effort by [also definitely] artist and producer extraordinaire Mereba, arted and produced extraordinarily and put out by Interscope Records and her own extraordinarily fucking versatile and extraordinarily fucking brilliant self. See, apparently Mereba has been putting her own stuff out for quite awhile and I’ve been under a godamn rock or something. Please feel free and welcome to hit me with as many “dude, precisely just how in the fuck did you not know Mereba?” comments – fire at will, because apparently I suck.
Sooo precisely just how the in fuck DID I not know Mereba? Did YOU?? Maybe you did, maybe you didn’t. Maybe you follow my links. Maybe you find links on your own.
MAYBE YOU ACQUIRE SOME COOL NEW TO YOU MUSIC BY MEREBA
Because that’s what I did: soon after having digested, delighted in, and downloaded “Planet U”, well lookit here, there’s another, older single to digest, delight, et al:
“BLACK TRUCK”
This song has that lush, beautiful, darkly-toned synth bass sound that makes me see lush, beautiful, darkly-toned colors and patterns behind my eyes.. the Mereba experience to me thus far is synesthesia personified in its purest form as “art”…
Which is merely nothing more than an extension of the Human Condition:
You got a language center, you can communicate. You got five senses, you can feel shit. And if you can communicate the shit you feel, you can “art”.
Having said that, not everyone can consistently art in a way that filters out the shit, which is why we have this kind of divine upper echelon of people we refer to as “artists.” And if you’re going to box people into little label-categories that’s actually not a bad one, because everyone does like to have their voice heard once and awhile.. sooo maybe you take some stuff I say here and maybe you take some direction from an artist like Mereba, then maybe you learn something, and then maybe you’re able to art and communicate more effectively for it.
DEFINITELY THAT’S A GOOD IDEA
At least I think so, maybe.. I know I’m definitely enriched by the Mereba listening experience.. the formula in (fig.1) works best for me, maybe it will for you as well? Idk.. maybe you try it out:
(fig.1): Maximizing online enjoyment and procurement of Mereba songs *one track at a time and be sure to prioritize (2.)
- D = DIGEST
- D = DELIGHT IN
- &D = DOWNLOAD
Sooo anyway, third single I DD&D is “Late Bloomer.” LOVE her guitar tones on this song.. not sure if she’s using a modeling amp or just running through a digital chorus with the reverb on the track, but it’s beautiful. No need to geek on or out about it – it’s a great song.. just love it.
“LATE BLOOMER”
The entire presentation is beautiful as the first two I accumulated – and as similar as different: I’ve yet to delve into Mereba’s back catalogue, but she’s gotten some rave solid raves on what I’m presuming is more guitar focused material, but I’ve been far too into soaking in the present to peek on the past – for now, anyway. I figure maybe it’s best to know what’s being said presently and in my own familiarity experience before reminiscing.. actually, that way by the time I get around to reminiscing it’s going to be about the newer stuff.
THUS RENDERING ALL OF THE AFOREMENTIONED AND YET TO BE MENTIONED STUFF TIMELESS.
*However: insofar as “recent past” is concerned, the other day I’m listening to “Late Bloomer” on iTunes shuffle and next up comes “Goodbye Stranger” – and say whatever the fuck you want and will about Supertramp, but if my iPhone pairs up and follows up “Late Bloomer” with and subsequently after “Goodbye Stranger”, then it follows that “Late Bloomer” is fucking awesome.
FIGHT ME.
Or don’t. Why not try and understand me instead? Try and put yourself in my shoes and envision how I reacted to this particular scenario: after “Late Bloomer” (which isn’t featured on The Jungle is the Only Way Out) I DD&D yet another (not album track) single:
“BET”
This goes into another dimension of songwriting entirely.. aaaand another dimension of making me cry. That’s how I reacted to that particular scenario.. and yeah, I cry a lot.
IT’S A THING.. WHATEVER. FIGHT ME.
Or maybe instead you check this stuff out for yourself and decide what you like. Maybe you download something cool by Mereba. Maybe someone gifts you with some cool new to you music by Mereba.
Personally I’m into supporting Mereba, so if any segment of my $1.29 per song lends to her in any way whatsoever it’s a good vibe to and from me when I drop it. 
And speaking of drops, The Jungle is the Only Way Out just dropped on February 27th.. I’d just heard about its release maybe a few days prior when I downloaded the single for
“SANDSTORM (feat. J.I.D)”
Sweet.. the guest appearance from J.I.D adds a grace to it that’s pretty integral – as does collaboration as a part of the communicative effort to well, art. Here’s a continuation on a collaboration: touring with a good supportive group of more people who art really well:
TOUR DATES FOR MEREBA AND J.I.D 
And no doubt J.I.D will keep the song intact when it’s up on the setlist – actually, maybe you wanna see how Mereba handles this material live so you can maybe feel excited about the show you’re gonna catch. Maybe you go and check out the clip below:
OMG “BLACK TRUCK” RULES LIVE
LOVE HER.. MAYBE YOU DO TOO NOW AS WELL.
Sooo anyway yes, Mereba fucking rules. Don’t think so? I’m not gonna fight you.. negative reinforcement seldom if ever works. Plus I’m fairly confident that “Mereba fucking rules” is a law of fucking physics, so there’s also fucking that.
If you DO need to fight me, however?
“WHATEVER.” I made it through Armageddon without a scratch, so there’s also THAT.. braved through my own little apocalypse-jungle and I found some utterly fucking beautiful art to help me out along the way. Maybe I kinda kick ass now via combat skills acquired during said braving. Maybe not. Maybe who the fuck cares about that kind of crap, anyway? Maybe instead of being all fighty or whatever we talk it out, then we hug it out, and then we check out some Mereba together.
DEFINITELY: LET’S DO THIS.
Other deep cuts on The Jungle is the Only Way Out are a spoken word piece, “dodging the devil”, and the tear inducing balladish “Souvenir.”
AGAIN, I CRY A LOT, WHATEVER, FIGHT ME, BLAH BLAH, etc.
- but I’m not posting any more links*
Do it right and properly download this stuff. I think it’s a reasonable and purposeful request. Available on iTunes, etc., and please delve into (link below) her site. This way I can feel like I’m helping you out as well Mereba, as well of course myself..
See how well operant conditioning works when adding the right positive reinforcers ?? I mean, ultimately I’m only motivated by selfishness.. but I get to delude myself into thinking my altruistic behavior is about something other than showing other people how awesome I am !! EVERYONE WINS !
YOU’RE WELCOME, BY THE WAY.
- Pariah Jones, March 2019
Photo credits to the above url and Mereba social media accounts.
*oh, what the Hell – here’s
“HEATWAVE (feat. 6LACK)”