With industrial hip-hop sounds that begs for comparison to Run The Jewels, New Haven’s SotoLish serves up the production and bars to carry those expectations appropriately. Their latest release 404 is a gorgeous 11 song release that’s over too soon. Connecticut music fans have themselves a real winner.

Putting together a cohesive album with clean production isn’t an easy feat, even with modern technology, but SotoLish (Lee T. Canales and Sotorios J. Fedeli) has delivered in a big way. Not only that, but they ride for New Haven. We love a hometown Stan, and we really love a Connecticut Stan. Leading off is “Kubrik Oven” which shouts out Long Wharf right off the rip. The chorus “my whole city brick oven,” pays homage to New Haven’s reputation as one of the best pizza cities on Earth. The duo rhymes with an attitude to match their sound; they’re focused and determined to create success on their own terms. As the album moves into “Babel,” something quickly becomes clear: Canales and Fedeli will take whatever it is you think you have, destroy it, and show you that you never had it to begin with. The confidence and intensity is uncanny, and the mastery and control of it sets SotoLish apart.

By the time you reach “Pear Shaped Planet,” you begin to appreciate that SotoLish has descended from 80s boom bap, not just in their production but in their flow as well. They’re ultimately more sophisticated, but it belies a certain maturity that many of their peers lack. A lot of up and coming rappers today sound lost, rapping in a haze, but Canales and Fedeli have a focused sound and they know exactly what they’re gunning for. Not only that, but their sound is refined and ready for a larger stage. If they can continue to find time and resources to invest in themselves, they are going to be a great bet, especially if they have any semblance of a stage presence.

 Solid word play and references abound; you’ll probably have to listen, replay, and then listen again if you want to really keep up. The mind starts to dream a Connecticut dream of a live set featuring SotoLish, Joey Batts, and AQMNI… but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. “Monitaur” incorporates some very cool percussion and switches up the composition enough to peak your interest as you begin to reach the album’s end. “Cap Bots” similarly throws a change up; the duo surfs along a sonic wave. The track features some funky bass and beats that feel tropical. It’s a humid walk through a rainforest, or a visit to Sonic Adventure’s White Jungle.

404 is a great album. Full stop. SotoLish have an absolute home-run on their hands and if it reaches the right ears, these guys are poised to take off. The only thing anybody could ask for is a longer album, but they have great, original production, strong rap flow, and outstanding content. The bar for lyrics is very low at the moment, but these guys show what a difference strong writing can make in hip-hop. If you’re booking shows, get these guys under contract while you can, because if there is any justice in this world they will have a full schedule soon. They may even be up and out of Connecticut before long. They’ll definitely be worth the price of admission.

Head to SotoLish’s BandCamp to purchase 404 digitally, and also to check out their merch.

Michael Stroneski, editor at mvsicthovght, has started several blogs and multi-media projects you’ve never seen. He is a life-long cheerleader for Connecticut and underground music. You can reach him at contact@mvsicthovght.com