The second collaboration between Northern English rapper Itchy and Scottish vocalist wtrflls, ‘Wtr Under the Bridge’, is an earthy yet ethereal banger that highlights each artist’s strengths.
Instrumentally, this song is beautiful. Typical of Itchy’s floaty, cloudy production, it creates a pleasant bounce that continues for almost three minutes and is subsequently exploited masterfully by both its creator and his collaborator. Itchy’s nimbler raps are no surprise, as he recently dropped a mixtape filled with similarly jittery, saturated vocal patterns and has proven time and time again that charismatic vocal delivery is one of his largest boons.
wtrflls meanwhile is very much the same sad boy that he’s always been. His singing is still excellent (his vocal talents also grew massively on his debut album), and his groaning, world-weary affectations are as pleasing to the ear as ever.
Like ‘Soft Touch’ before it, ‘Wtr Under the Bridge’ sees two of the UK’s finest collide for a genuinely organic collaboration that prioritises the song’s overall atmosphere over any individual success. Perhaps more vitally, it’s the sound of two individuals from two very different places working together to create some truly beautiful sounds that are totally unique to the rapidly growing scene found on this side of the Atlantic.
Listen to the song here.
Follow Itchy on Twitter here.
Follow wtrflls on Twitter here.
– Chris (@108seraph)
108MICS 