Album Review: serpentwithfeet - 'GRIP SEQUEL'
serpentwithfeet is starting 2025 the same way he started 2024: with a new album. Not just any album, but the sequel to last year’s album GRIP. He’s made it explicitly clear that this is indeed the follow-up project, as he’s given it the aptly-fitting title GRIP SEQUEL. No room for confusion there. That said, serpentwithfeet may have reserved his creativity for the music, as the latest instalment in his discography is yet another transcendent body of work, ranging from airy instrumentals to carnival-inspired funk remixes.
Like a flower blooming in spring, the album opens beautifully. BEG QUIETLY makes for a smooth transition into serpentwithfeet’s sonic universe, as his soft vocal delivery is accompanied by divine instrumentation; featuring rushing water, birds chirping & heavenly harmonies. His heartfelt songwriting mutates into charisma-fuelled affirmations on the R&B-heavy PILLOW TALK. The instrumentation will make you feel like you’re eavesdropping on his dream as the line “you can tell i’m hard to bag” loops towards the outro.
More R&B cuts follow with CHAPTER & VERS and SEAGULL, the latter featuring a solid verse from Ben Reilly. WRITHING IN THE WIND was the only single released in the lead-up to the album, and it still remains one of the best tracks from the project. The thumping use of Jersey drums was unexpected but welcomed, as the album slows down once again for its final leg.
WANDERER & LUCKY ME close out the album as majestically as it started, with a feature from Yuli on the latter. The strings on LUCKY ME are astoundingly gorgeous as serpentwithfeet reflects on his relationships, losses & issues with identity through his songwriting. However, there is still a couple tricks up his sleeve as he taps into help from Ogi & Destin Conrad for the SPADES remix. Not only that, R&B juggernaut Ty Dolla $ign also features on a baile funk remix of DAMN GLOVES, a track from the original GRIP project. This ends the short project on a celebratory note, leaving listeners eager for a new era of serpentwithfeet.
Words by Alexander Peters
