Ollie K of the foggy shores of Devon, United Kingdom, is an artist whose music seems to come from the past as well as the future. His latest work, the 18, track album “The Mysterons”, is the hypnotic confluence of the hip, hop style from the golden, age and the 50's sci, fi vibe that takes its inspiration from the famous 1960s TV series Captain Scarlet, by a long way, the most ambitious of a seasoned hip, hop creator with more than twenty years of experience, the artist.
The Mysterons were initially conceived as a small EP of six tracks, only three and a half years ago. As Ollie’s imagination grew, the album evolved into a full-length conceptual masterpiece. "I started this project six months before my first son was born, " Ollie remembers, "and it was released just after my second came. I regard it as my first real masterpiece." The personal growth, the waiting, and the feeling of being guided by fate that time silently reveals are the elements of its own narrative.
The Mysterons go beyond the scope of simply imitating Captain Scarlet. Instead, they reinterpret the story. By drawing from the sounds of the sixties, which are distinguished by the use of analog technology, Ollie K reintroduces these elements in modern hip-hop by applying rhythmic precision and depth to his lyrics, expressing himself effectively. This is why the album is a time travel, allowing one to go back and forth, quite nostalgic, yet still not be stuck in the past. The entire album unfolds like a new episode of a series, with "The Imposter," "In the Shadows," and "Vapours" being the strongest narratives, merging atmospheric beats with introspective storytelling.
The album is also a perfect example of the ongoing collaboration of Ollie and B, Tone, 33, whose raw energy and street sounds fuel the six tracks. The tandem of the two artists is the main strength of The Mysterons, as the cinematic space contrasts with the reality of the street, down at the local pub. They have created something so engaging that you find it hard to stop midway through their album; you have to listen to the whole thing from beginning to end.
The fascinating thing about The Mysterons is the setting in which it was created. Each rhythm, lyric, and mixdown was the result of work done in Ollie’s home studio, mainly during the nights and early mornings while his family was asleep. "Making hip-hop since 2002 has been a labor of love, " he says. "It took me 20 years to create something cohesive, and this theme fit perfectly." The record is proof of that love affair, a talent quietly working in the background, honing its craft until it achieved perfection.
The Mysterons is far beyond being just a hip-hop album; in essence, it is a time capsule, which acts as a bridge between different times, emotions, and fantasies. It’s a declaration from an artist not following the fashionable trends, but paving his own path, with intention, sincerity, and immortality.