Swedish musician Yung Lean has always done things differently. After his 2017 album Stranger, which in many ways was a culmination of the sounds that Lean has spent the better part of this decade experimenting with and perfecting, it was uncertain what direction he would take next. While that’s still up in the air in some ways, fans are closer to an answer as to what Yung Lean’s 4th studio album will sound like with Poison Ivy, his third official mixtape, released through his own label Year0001.



While Poison Ivy feels in some ways like a sketchbook rather than a fleshed out piece of work, it nevertheless contains some of Yung Lean’s most interesting music to date. Backed by the production of Whitearmor, Lean’s decision to go with just the one producer across the whole tape not only brings it all together, but makes it flow into each other.



Happy Feet has divided fans, and while it isn’t the strongest song on the mixtape, it captures the overall sound. Sounding slightly despondent, as does the rest of the record, Yung Lean continues the introspective nature that permeated all through Stranger. Indeed, at points it feels like Yung Lean wants more recognition than he currently has, saying on Sauron that “we the type of boys to change the game and go broke.” With Lean’s contribution to Soundcloud rap as a genre, and the underground scene as a whole, you can be assured that people are listening to where he’s taking his sound next.



Reminiscent of his releases under the moniker Jonatan leandoer127, Yung Lean puts together a mixtape that might not be the destination, but forms a very important part of the journey towards the next release proper. While not every song on the record hits — when it does, it shows that despite his continued success, Yung Lean is constantly searching for the next, and bringing his crew, and listeners with him for the ride. One thing is for sure — Yung Lean isn’t one to rest on his laurels.



3.5/5



Standout tracks: silicon Wings, sauron, bender++girlfriend