Music

Chance The Rapper Joins Peter CottonTale To Soundtrack Google’s ‘Year In Search 2020’ With ‘Together’

The inspiring message of hope lightens a ‘Year In Search’ recap in sore need of one. …

After a rough year, Google’s usual “Year In Search” retrospective could have been extremely depressing. The imagery and the searches themselves are enough to induce anxious flashbacks in anyone who was even passably aware of the seemingly hundreds of disasters that took place on a global scale in 2020. Fortunately, this year’s video arrives accompanied by a message of hope, courtesy of Chicago producer Peter CottonTale, who soundtracks the video with his new song “Together” featuring Chance the Rapper, the Chicago Children’s Choir, Cynthia Erivo, and Re-Collective Orchestra’s Matt Jones.

It’s the second collaboration between Chance and Peter this year after the duo linked up in April for the gospel-themed “Pray For Real.” Their chemistry, which was previously displayed on tracks like “Forever Always,” remains intact. CottonTale also appeared this year on Vic Mensa’s V Tape, which saw Chance and Vic reunite on a record for the first time since Vic’s 2013 Innanetape.

Meanwhile, Chance recently re-released his Christmas album, Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama, with Jeremih and also started collaborating with R&B living legend Dionne Warwick after she shouted him on Twitter. The moment gave Chance an opportunity to close out his 2020 on a high note after being sued by his former manager Pat Corcoran. Chance also has one last year-ending moment planned: A virtual concert which will celebrate the reissue of Merry Christmas Lil’ Mama.

Listen to “Together” above.

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Album Review

Paul Terry, Aptøsrs & Cellarscape unite on bold new album “Alternative Piano Club”

Combining his three artistic alter egos, Paul Terry presents an awe-inspiring new 12-track album, “Alternative Piano Club,” written in collaboration with Aptøsrs and Cellarscape. This is an album-length voyage of music that blends acoustic, rock, and piano-driven cinematic sounds.

Torn between this complex emotional spectrum, all the while the piano remains at its core throughout. Paul Terry opens his “Memento Mori (Chromogenic Phase)” contemplatively, creating a solemn, reflective mood. Cellarscape’s “Three Years Of Roses“ is warmer, whereas Aptøsrs’ “Questionnaires“ is much more textured as a large, sculptural post-rock.

“Dave’s Theme,” written by Paul Terry, musically expands the narrative with a touch of cinematic elevation that aligns well. “We Shape The Clouds” by Cellarscape is fluffy and heart-warming, “Writers Behind The Curtain” is somber, more narrative. We are all together in “A Place We Made,” an honest, intimate, emotionally grounded space.

The project contains vocal warmth and cultural depth in the song “This Is My Home“ by Silas Miami & Lana Crowster. Proceeding in a totally different direction is the stronger emotional clarity of Paul Terry’s acoustic storytelling on “Any Time You Want To Fly” and “No Sleep Has Come.” Cellarscape presents a wide, spacious atmospheric moment in “Cygnus,” while Aptøsrs ends with “Rust Mountain (Monochrome Piano Version),” a simple gem that brings the project full circle.

The mixing of Sam Okell and Adam Noble, the mastering of Alex Wharton and Robin Schmidt have, in many ways, brought their polish to it while still making it feel human. “Alternative Piano Club” is a work entity, where three musical personalities met and talk mind in the same emotional language.

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Artist Spotlight

LAST ALEX! balances precision and pulse on the electrifying track “Plus 1”

LAST ALEX!, a Chicago-based artist and producer, comes out with “Plus 1,” a high-energy release that combines technical prowess with an undeniable melodic instinct.

LAST ALEX! puts both craftsmanship and creativity on display here. The song’s strength lies in its balance, in detailed execution without sacrificing feeling, and in complexity without losing momentum.

LAST ALEX! doesn’t fully lean into the cold technique or loose emotion, but finds the sweet spot where skill and soul meet. This yields a polished, vibrant, and musically confident track.

Connect with LAST ALEX! on Spotify