Von Saxon has a sound not held down by the rules of traditional music making.
Unpacking Von Saxon’s sound and everything that takes place on their latest double album, Undone Side A and Side B, is an exploration of the potential of a single artist and a home studio. Massive in its scope, Von Saxon goes on a journey challenging the conventions of modern music. Soulful, heart-breaking, fun, intense, hilarious, offensive; Saxon uses hip hop to explore the human condition across multiple genres and languages.
At a staggering 36 tracks between Side A and Side B, there is a lot to take in, but there are gems abound from this Ft. Collins based artist. Side A has Von Saxon unable to sit still, moving between ideas almost on a whim. Going from hip hop to punk to synth pop to folk to rock ballads like it’s a sample platter, giving the listener a taste of each but never settling in. Album opener “Monet” is almost a red herring, showcasing Saxon’s exceptional lyricism and depth of flow, only to immediately switch to pop rock with “Belong” followed by the in-your-face punk anthem “Junck”.
Side A moves in this manner throughout its entirety, always zigging when you expect a zag, and delivering some truly incredible songs in the process. Songs like “Might be the move (feat. KID ANON & Jokah)” feel ready-made for mainstream hip hop radio, only for an inspirational ‘80s ballad like “Cash Money” to come out of left field.
One of the biggest surprises from the album is “Pope For a Day,” a hilarious and triumphant story about a genie granting Von Saxon’s wish to be Pope for a single day. With lyrics like, ‘Who’s big daddy is the pope tonight,’ and ‘Manicotti colored linen got me doing back flips,’ good times aren’t far away.
A quick flyover of both sides will show a hip hop album but there is so much more. Side A on the whole feels more light-hearted, jovial at times and soulful at others. Side B is explosive in its energy, hard-hitting and divisive.
Chaos reigns supreme on Side B. Much more hip hop forward than Side A, Von Saxon taps into something dark and experimental. “found footage” sets the stage and the rest of Side B doesn’t let up. “Was du gehen?” has Von Saxon rapping in German and “MILLBURRY(feat. Changeline)” is a powerhouse of a track.
The second half of Side B doesn’t let up. Shocking on an almost juggelo level, there are a string of songs that you probably get caught listening to in public. And they are amazing. “There are bugs in your skin” has Saxon making threats against heads of state and committing tax fraud. For “Ave Maria,” Saxon audaciously turns Schubert’s classic prayer into a metal track which fades into the satirical “God save the troops”, a song one could safely say, is offensive. Yet somehow, against the odds of the modern outrage machine, Saxon not only pulls it off but delivers one of the best tracks of the project.
As expansive and sprawling as this double album is, it only scratches the surface of Saxon’s catalogue. Those discovering this prolific artist for the first time will find an incredible back log of albums and singles just as interesting and almost as wild as Undone Side A and B. Almost.
