Bliss N Eso The Moon: The Light Side

A quarter-century into their career, Bliss n Eso have certainly earned their status as respected elders of Australian hip-hop. Comprised of the titular two MCs and trusty DJ Izm, the Sydney trio are such a popular live act that they now write their songs with crowd participation in mind. That’s the ideal fate for their eighth studio album, which drives home epic anthems about appreciating what you have (“Vacation”), joining the ranks of parenthood (“Struck Like Lightning”) and dreaming as big as you dare (“Take Me Higher”). There are darker themes too: “Been Through Hell” chronicles enduring a trial by fire, with strong guest support from Benny Morrell, 360 and Masked Wolf, while an unexpected flip of The Rubens’ 2015 hit “Hoops” laments a toxic relationship’s repeating cycle of manipulation. Bliss n Eso also flip the 1999 Gang Starr track “Full Clip”—with DJ Premier’s blessing—to create “Party on the Moon”, a feel-good ode to classic boom-bap. And when the funk guitar and call-and-response vocals kick in on “Feeling Fly”, it’s easy to hear both elements igniting a packed-out live audience.