Aesop Rock & Blockhead: Escape, Then and Now
Aesop Rock and Blockhead trace disorienting escape, from "Daylight" to Trouble Mountain, a journey shaped by Poconos ads and Blockhead's production.
Tracklist
- Swedish Death Cleaning — Aesop Rock & Blockhead
- Daylight — Aesop Rock
Transcript
Swedish Death Cleaning — Aesop Rock & Blockhead
Aesop Rock and producer Blockhead set Trouble Mountain at a fictional resort where escape can turn disorienting. Aesop Rock’s store traces the idea to Poconos getaway commercials the pair saw growing up in New York. The album opens with “Swedish Death Cleaning.” Treble describes Blockhead leaving open piano and synth loops under Aesop’s verse, then adding cascading arpeggios about a minute in and a beat after Aesop puts down the mic. Their earlier collaboration “Daylight” is where we’ll go next. Hear Swedish Death Cleaning by Aesop Rock & Blockhead.
Daylight — Aesop Rock
Go back to “Daylight,” from Aesop Rock’s Labor Days. Apple lists Aesop as the artist, but Treble critic Jeff Terich names the song among his celebrated collaborations with producer Blockhead. Years later, Blockhead produced throughout Trouble Mountain, including the opener you just heard. Hear Daylight by Aesop Rock.
Trouble Mountain’s resort is new fiction, but the partnership isn’t. With “Daylight” and “Swedish Death Cleaning,” you’ve heard Aesop Rock and Blockhead working together at two points in that history.