New Music from CASSOW // “Cold Winter”

This week, the Rose City’s own Cassow dropped his new album “Cold Winter”, a well made, 16-track album.  This is Cassow’s fourth project, and when asked, he explained that the audience can expect a very developed sound. “What u see now, is a more polished Cassow,” he said. “Cold Winter” is a strong album with aggressive, articulate lines over dark, well balanced beats.

I have been following the release of this album closely and the way Portland fans as well as fans across the country have reacted is incredible. This album has been called “gold”, “a classic”, “definitely one to check out”.

Cassow pulled from a lot of talent for this album.  Tracks were produced by Jaisu, ReingState [4 tracks], Stewart Villian, Eff.Dope, Niko, Trox [4 tracks], Veeto Brown, Dave Notti and Hippie Sabotage.  Cassow also had a great line up of rappers featured along side him.  “Cold Winter” features Danny Brown, Stewart Villian, Smoke DZA, Dvnny Seth and Smooth.

The most beautiful and eerie track on this album is definitely  “Thoughts Beyond Dreams”.  The story of his mother’s struggle with addiction is written here, from the perspective of her son.  Anyone raised by distant or neglectful parents can hear their loved one in the voice at the beginning, loud and clear, and will understand the lyric, “you was my superhero even when you lost your cape.”  The pain of being raised by a mother who was in and out of his life rings out and a very personal, vulnerable Cassow is exposed. It takes something for an artist to tell their story and Cassow does this when he honestly tells of his childhood and relationship with his mother.  This song is soaked in anger, sadness and love.  The recorded voice at the beginning is his mother, who was recorded on a phone call in the studio during one of the sessions that created “Cold Winter”.

Below is the video to “$pazz” the first track on Cassow’s “Cold Winter”.  You can find @Cassow on Twitter and listen to or download “Cold Winter” HERE for free from Frsh Slcts.