This is the sophomore effort from New Haven, Connecticut rapper, songwriter & producer Stray Withers. Forming the Rogue Hollow collective during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, his solo debut extended play Witherman would come out the next fall as did his full-length debut Cloudy Alibi in the summer of 2023 & Enjoy the View. His crew’s newest in-house producer Charlie Beans solely handled all the production for Blink of an Eye merely 6 months ago, which was only a prelude to Flinch here.
After the “Prologue” intro, “Fear & the Fall of Arrogance” begins with this self-produced rap rock opener cautioning that he isn’t the one to test whereas “Midnight Mass” featuring Novls advises to walk with them & assuring they’ll promise to learn to love it if they don’t. “Off the Trail” works in a boom bap instrumental from Charlie Beans suggesting to calm down unless you want your wig split leading into “Gutted” featuring Billy Obey joining forces so both of them can spit the wicked shit together.
“Shadow Puppets” maintains a dark boom bap atmosphere representing the ones who were left outside just before “Ferris” featuring Novls & the now disbanded Super Famous Fun Time Guys talks about being fucked up leaning out a window hanging upside down. “Aura” kicks off the 2nd half admitting his patience has been matching his character as the days continue to grow shorter while “Empty Attics” talks about having conversations with himself in a vacant loft.
We get some apocalyptic boom bap vibes during “Wish You Well” expressing the joy he gets outta having conversations revolving the flip side of these fights he has with this individual he’s publicly addressing & after the cavernous “Hitchhiker” featuring James Joyce the Squatch talks about not being so sure where to go despite already knowing it’s a long way from where both of them consider home, “As Hideous Does” featuring Charlie Beans fuses trap & rock to break down their ugliness.
“The Wanderer’s Eye” reminds us all of the fact death comes for everyone no matter the time & asking why he should sleep when everyone else doesn’t while “Firefly” talks about the inability to maintain his composure for much longer & staying by this person’s side only if they’re willing to do the same. The outro “Please Stand Close” spends Flinch’s remaining minutes offering some advise to anyone who isn’t aware of Stray being afraid of himself.
Coming off his greatest EP earlier this spring, Stray Withers celebrates Friday the 13th taking the darkest parts of him & putting them on front street to make Flinch the most vulnerable batch of material he’s ever made. The time has finally arrived to fully venture into an area where all of your fears and insecurities exist known as the Dim Place, telling the tale of The Wanderer’s journey through this ugly hellscape that some call “life” cancelling the voices in the wind & hiding his so the trees don’t recognize him accepting The Lantress’ help.
Score: 4/5
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