Armand Hammer Surprises the World With a Game of “Snakes & Ladders” (Album Review)
New surprise LP & the 8th overall from New York underground duo Armand Hammer. Consisting of billy woods & Elucid, they formed together a decade ago already off their only mixtape Half Measures & the debut album Race Music. The pair would go on to release an EP & 7 more full-lengths worth of abstract political hip hop, with Haram fully produced by The Alchemist becoming the most critically acclaimed within their discography. We Buy Diabetic Test Strips quickly became the greatest musical statement in Fat Possum Records’ entire discography, coming off their Rhymesayers Entertainment debut Mercy to play Snakes & Ladders.
“Deadbolts” produced by clipping. sets the tone with this experimental intro talking about the difference between alone & aloneness whereas “Send for Me” strips the drums thanks to Kenny Segal so both of them can keep dropping abstract verses. “Lock Out (Tag Out)” has Sebb Bash fusing elements of jazz rap & boom bap talking about data centers using to cool down the AI systems just before “Jet Magazine” goes at the weak rooted who don’t share the same realities they do.
Meanwhile on “Nightswim”, we have Armand Hammer over some guitars talking about a state or surveillance such as the rise of Flock cameras leading into the minute & a half “TimeTables” suggesting to either come in peace or leave in pieces. “don’t say it if it isn’t true” continues from there explaining that they don’t wanna hear anyone saying they love them if it’s out of insincerity while “Gravity” ends the 1st leg in the form of a soulful billy woods solo cut.
“Vespers” hooks up an Animoss beat with some pianos up to kick off the 2nd half talking about crying in a club called nowhere until “Dragon Teeth” comes through with a brief 2-parter putting calculations aside for oracles & a reminder of freedom & compliance being 2 separate things. “Incidentals” keeps it going speaking of keeping the keys to hearts for unimportant purposes while the experimentql “Graveside” talks about seeing y’all 6 feet below the dirt in the grave.
The song “Dogville” brings the jazzier elements back in the picture so they can describe a place where snakes move with ease while “Assembly Lines” over an industrial Preservation instrumental talking about applying for a job only to find out the interviewer was an AI chatbot. “Risk” featuring $ilkMoney finds the trio joining forces so they can break down their murderous tendencies & “if we must die” sends off Snakes & Ladders.
I thought for sure Armand Hammer would’ve waited a couple months to drop Snakes & Ladders, but I’ll still gladly take it even if I wouldn’t consider it as great as We Buy Diabetic Test Strips or both their full-lengths with Uncle Al. The abstractly conscious lyricism addressing the country’s political climate for past 21 months going on 22 is well mapped out, but there are moments where the experimentally jazzy & drumless production can feel like leftovers from previous album sessions.
Score: 7/10
