It appeared that Azealia Banks was ready to derail her own hype train a few weeks ago. Cancellations of summer festival appearances, manager changes and a push back of her planned 1991 EP weren’t necessarily bad ideas. Banks needs to come correct with Broke With Expensive Taste as a killer debut album (it will be out in September) and perhaps taking her time with releases rather than rushing things out is a good idea. In the interim though, Ms. Banks will release a mixtape called Fantastic. This time around, Nick Hook and Hudson Mohawke’s huge hooks and tropical burst prove yet again that Banks can jump on big tracks and make it her own when she wants to.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
