<p><span><span>- The London based label <strong>PC Music</strong> are often mistaken for a collective. Focussing all of their attention on one project at a time, the array of producers and artists circling the organisation are diverse and ingenious enough to create project after project that feels grounded in their signature sound and aesthetic, yet singular in vision. <em>Unlimited Ammo, </em>the debut album from PC Music signee Namasenda, may be one of their best exports yet.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Taking inspiration from the Y2K aesthetic of <em>Men in Black </em>and <em>The Matrix</em> for its artwork, and for its style, <em>Call of Duty</em>? The opening track is literally titled <em>Black Ops 2 </em>after all. Namasenda flirts with R&B and hardcore, all while keeping her hyperpop vocals and industrial electronic production at the forefront of her arsenal. The real gift of <em>Unlimited Ammo </em>is the nuanced way that Namasenda employs these genres to discreetly satirise top-forty pop music. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>In <em>Star</em>, Namasenda comments “<em>I can see the scars, they’re blinding, all up in my head / all up in my head, I can see the stars, they’re shining,</em>” lyrics elevated by the sharp pangs of instrumentation that slowly bleed into a soothing soundscape as she repeats these words like a manta. The record’s title track, with a frantic, IDM-inspired beat, captures the spirit of falling in love. Namasenda writes with intent, “<em>I could never run out of you / I could never reload all my feelings for you.</em>” Who’d think that a <em>Black Ops </em>inspired album could make me feel so sentimental? <em>On My Mind</em> is just as embedded in the nostalgia tinged flirtation of the album’s sweeter moments. Fortunately, these gel well with the edgier tone of the record, never feeling overly saccharine.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Demonic</em>, with <strong>A.G. Cook</strong> producing a <strong>Death Grips</strong>-lite, hardstyle electronic cut, sees Namasenda experiment with grittier, noise-pop electronica. Madrid based trap artist <strong>La Zowi</strong> contributes brilliantly. Another highlight of the record is <em>Vvolvo</em>, a track which shines with a metallic sheen and bounces on a bubblegum bass; the complete opposite of <em>Demonic</em>, the contrast offers another insight into Namasenda’s eclectic and esoteric taste.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Unlimited Ammo </em>is a breakthrough debut for Namasenda, a record that allows her the freedom to explore a widely diverse range of sounds. With brilliant collaborators and a flair for bizarre reference points, <em>Unlimited Ammo </em>is sexy and campy, an album that shouldn’t work but is cohesive against the odds.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- Sean Tayler.</span></span></p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=3323691180/size=large/bgcol=f…; seamless><a href="https://namasenda.bandcamp.com/album/unlimited-ammo-infinity">Unlimited Ammo: Infinity by Namasenda</a></iframe>