Vanisher, Horizon Scraper – Quadeca
By Terence Xu
Quadeca’s fourth studio album, Vanisher, Horizon Scraper, marks another bold and transformative chapter in his ever-evolving discography. Following the cinematic experimentations of From Me To You, a record steeped in the sonic ambience of winter and snow-covered mountains, to the spectral catharsis of I Didn’t Mean To Haunt You – a conceptual exploration of grief told through the posthumous perspective of a ghost, Quadeca has firmly established himself as a musical auteur. As a singer, songwriter and producer, who skillfully blends storytelling, visuals, and artistry, each album he creates feels like a meticulously crafted experience. Now, with Vanisher, Horizon Scraper, he completes a trilogy of albums where he breaks out of the dismissive label of “YouTube Rapper”, carving a space in music that is entirely his own.
A 70-minute movie accompanies the album; offering an immersive listening experience as each song is paired with its own unique visuals and aesthetics. Quadeca, now a solitary voyager, sails across the vast seas in an existential pursuit towards the horizon. Rife with layered acoustic textures, the album marks a subtle departure from his previous works, showcasing his newfound mastery of raw, organic soundscapes. From the shrieking, fracturing piano progressions in ‘FORGONE’ and ‘MONDAY’, to the intimacy of weathered guitar plucks and squeaks in ‘GODSTAINED’, Quadeca captures a fresh yet rugged palette of sounds that perfectly complements the thematic metaphor of the sea.
Tracks like ‘WAGING WAR’ feature a mellow, arpeggiating synth that adds such a lush, introspective ambience throughout many of the songs. The guitars complement the synth beautifully too, providing a texture that shimmers of mystery and nostalgia. ‘NO QUESTIONS ASKED’, which opens the album, includes a sample from “Deus Lhe Pague” by Chico Buarque, nodding to the Brazilian and bossa nova influences that appear throughout the record. It adds a dissonant yet whimsical start to the record, marking the beginning of a long journey to embark on.
For how elusive his songs are in nature, this album also contains some of Quadeca’s catchiest melodies and lyrics. ‘RUIN MY LIFE’ is particularly memorable as he sings, “When I was young, I was so certain / I thought that I would find my person,” followed by the post-chorus: “So I might have to ruin my life to make it mine”. The song plays like a melancholic sea shanty that lingers in your head.
Similarly, ‘THAT’S WHY’ is a versatile standout track as well, both structurally and melodically. Split into two distinct parts, the first unfolds as a gritty, cryptic spoken rap verse, reminiscent of abstract hip-hop artists like Billy Woods. From the unfiltered vocal cadences and rustic sonic textures, the song then transitions into a layered, euphoric guitar instrumental. The lyrics “That's why, alright” repeated, and the infectious refrain of “It don't get any better than this life, life” makes this track blissfully magnetic.
As the album progresses past its midway point, the pacing slows down in a way that feels slightly underwhelming. “I DREAM ABOUT SINKING” is an ambient instrumental interlude that aims for an atmospheric feel, but comes across as more of a filler mood piece. The following track “NATURAL CAUSES” leans heavily on lyrical repetition, giving the impression of yet another extended interlude. While ambitious and immersive, these tracks detract away from the album’s overall momentum, making it feel dragged out.
The latter half of the album transitions into something darker, more violent, and turbulent compared to the serene tracks of the first half. ‘THUNDERRR’, thus emerges as a strangely upbeat and hard-hitting cut from the record, much like ‘knots’ from his previous album. From the panning metallic plucks, pulsing electropop elements and dissonant high-pitched strings that spiral away, the track stands out from the rest in its distorted, primal and cult-like energy it creates.
Likewise, the industrial hip-hop cut of ‘THE GREAT BAKUNAWA’ features Danny Brown, which mirrors his appearance on ‘house settling’ from Quadeca’s previous album. This time, however, instead of rapping from the perspective of carbon monoxide, Danny Brown takes on the persona of a mythical sea serpent – the Great Bakunawa from Philippine folklore. With many clever lyrical nods, it stands out as a brilliantly bizarre track that adds both depth and whimsiness to the album’s supernatural undercurrents.
‘FORGONE’, an epic 8-minute piano ballad, is the second-to-last track on the album. Presented like a timeless hymn, it is imbued with introspection and sorrow as the tone is intimate yet grand. Delving into themes of reflection, closure, and the passage of time, Quadeca now feels stuck in a state of waiting, as it unfolds into a revelatory retreat, featuring waves of crashing percussion and guitar arpeggios within its climax.
At last, ‘CASPER’, featuring English band Maruja, closes the album in a style reminiscent of ‘cassini’s division’ from his previous LP, which featured Thor Harris of Swans. Both closers are marked by haunting, high-pitched vocal wails with an eerie, gospel-like quality. The soundscape centers on drum-driven instrumentals by the collaborators, paired with spoken passages — this time delivered by Harry Wilkinson, Maruja’s lead member. Compared to his last LP, this finale is even more emotive, abrasive and unrelenting. It erupts into a post-rock crescendo that distorts and swells, gasping for air in its final moments, as if Quadeca himself is drowning in the sea. As one of the album’s strongest moments, it delivers a brilliantly cathartic and unforgettable end.
At its core, Vanisher, Horizon Scraper is a truly impressive amalgamation of genres, from folktronica, art pop, neo-psychedelia, experimental hip-hop, to post-rock. It conveys a terrifying yet beautiful story of a man adrift at sea, evoking all sorts of emotions – from ecstasy, serenity and bliss, to grief, melancholy, and existential loneliness. Whether or not this becomes Quadeca’s magnum opus, it is undoubtedly one of the most ambitious, and emotionally raw albums of the year. Each track is captivating at every turn, as this album is not just something to hear, but something to experience. When the moment feels right, I highly recommend listening to this work of art.