Expensive Pasta sounds like an exquisite members-only dish but in reality, it’s the moniker of the newest trio building their reputations in the music scene. Made up of Florida natives James McCleary (lilsurfrat) , Isaiah Whack (YZZ) and rounded up by Tom Hunt (T. HUNT) from Nova Scotia, Canada. The trio met during a vacation at Daytona Beach and when they discovered their mutual love for music and the arts they decided to form an alliance on this musical journey to the apex.

Their latest effort Atlantis is a 15-track body of work inspired by the mythical tale of the lost city of Atlantis and works on the concept of finding one’s own Atlantis, in other words, a place where freedom of expression is the order of the day and ideas are not stifled by preconceived notions.

The project opens up with the title track which helps set the tone with its vivid storytelling and exotic-sounding backdrop made up of synth guitar plucks and lush textures. This is followed by “Smoking In The Moonlight”, a laidback guitar-driven jam that explores blossoming love while drowning out the sorrows with the herb. The track has a catchy chorus and the engaging lyrics are well-crafted and detailed. On “Never Ending” the crew makes use of a dreamy and somewhat reflective soundscape that forms the perfect backdrop for their contemplative verses. Lines like “Never shoot then you never miss/ I don’t want no life advice from someone who never lived” hit close to home as listeners can easily relate to similar emotions. The following tracks “Radio” and “Wavey” switch up the energy of the project with fun and playful themes. The former has a summer-tinged party vibe with its smooth synths, sparse drums and playful raps while the latter is more upbeat and filled with bravado-laden raps anchored by stylish flows and rhyme schemes. On “Faith”, the crew makes extensive use of airy melodic styles and aesthetics which once again display their versatility and this theme is also expressed in “Style Zone”. The track is made up of a sublime and atmospheric production with thick 808 drum kicks to boot while the fast-paced flows also complement the track and add that extra stylish touch to it. The project closes out with “Unlimited” and “Awakening”, two tracks that sound distinctly different but flow into each other seamlessly. “Unlimited” is a snapshot of their past struggles and the hurdles they overcame to find their true North. The verses are vivid and unapologetic while the simple and catchy hook help tie things together. On the other hand, “Awakening” is hard-hitting and vibrant and sees the emcees in a form of celebratory mode as they trade bars effortlessly about their success and journey in the game.

Overall, the project is brimming with solid and crisp production handled by lilsurfrat, which gets one’s attention easily while the infusion of styles ranging from smooth melodies, fiery raps and playful themes help show the world the true colours of the trio. This is 50 entertaining minutes that would keep listeners locked in.