Trash Islandis a collaborative studio album by Swedish collectiveDrain Gang,released on 12 September 2019 throughYear0001.Performed by the collective's membersBladee,Ecco2K,andThaiboy Digital,the album includes a guest appearance by frequent collaboratorYung Lean.Acloud rapandpopalbum, it was primarily produced by Drain Gang's producerWhitearmor,with contributions from Mechatok and Lusi. Compared to thelo-fiof Drain Gang's previous work,Trash Islandhas a more polished and melodic sound. It was recorded during a visit by Drain Gang toBangkok,Thailand, after visa complications forced Thaiboy Digital to leave Sweden in 2015.
The Swedish hip hop collectiveDrain Gangformed inStockholmin 2013. It consists of rappersBladee,Ecco2K,andThaiboy Digital,as well as producerWhitearmor.Through collaborations with fellow Swedish rapperYung Lean,the group began to gain recognition, and released the projectGTBSGthat same year. In 2015, visa complications forced Thaiboy Digital to leave Sweden and move toBangkok,Thailand.[1]Drain Gang released their second album,D&G,in 2017.[2]
Trash Islandwas recorded in Bangkok, when Drain Gang were visiting Thaiboy Digital.[1]The album was primarily produced by Whitearmor, with contributions from producers Mechatok and Lusi.[3]Its artwork was created by Ecco2K.[2]Trash Islandwas released on 12 September 2019 throughYear0001.[3]
Trash Islandwas described ascloud rap[3]and "futuristicpop"by critics.[2][4]Dazedmagazine considered it a sonic shift from thelo-fiof Drain Gang's earlier work, to a more polished, melodic sound.[2]Its opening track, "1:1", contains a guest appearance from fellow Swedish rapper and frequent Drain Gang collaboratorYung Lean.Bladee is absent from the track, with Ecco2K taking the lead, and Thaiboy Digital delivering a hook-like verse. The following two tracks see Thaiboy Digital taking the lead.[5]On "30th Floor", he sings a duet with Bladee,[6]and on "Waterfall" he sings the chorus. OnTrash Island'sfourth song, "Victim", Bladee repeats a minimalist hook, and Ecco2K delivers a verse about battling destructive urges. The song features an instrumental whichThe Fader's Raphael Helfand wrote "burrows sneakily into one’s brain and sticks around." The fifth song, "Western Union", is built around Ecco2K's hook.[5]The following track "The Void" features a sparse, atmospheric sound, with echoing vocals andkick drums.Led by Bladee, it contains dark, depressive, and introspective lyrics.[7]By comparison, the final two tracks "Acid Rain" and "You Lose" are more hopeful.[5]
In a positive review, Steve Juon ofRapReviewsdescribedTrash Islandas "music designed forInstagram reelsandTikTokvideos. "He praised the album's brevity, calling it a casual listening experience. Juon was impressed by the production by Whitearmor, and considered it the album's biggest strength. He felt indifferent toward the vocal performances, saying" the rappers involved have nothing terribly intriguing to say ".[7]Helfand namedTrash IslandDrain Gang's "tightest, most cohesive" group project. He described the song "Western Union" as "the perfectposse cut",and considered the album's final two tracks to be its weakest.[5]
