Several changes to the title and one lost member later, iridescence, BROCKHAMPTON’s “fourth” studio album has been much anticipated. Released Sept. 21, many fans were not certain it would live up to their expectations, as one of the founding members Ameer Vann would no longer be a part of the group.

This album was recorded in just 10 days at the Abbey Road recording studio in London.

On first listen, I was mostly struck with the energy, but it took me more listens than most albums to distinguish between the songs.

Though this album is far more experimental than previous albums, it is executed very well.

These songs have so much energy and have a distinctive sound that is purely Brockhampton. There was a lot of talk about how this album could sound really different after the departure of Vann, but honestly I think it sounds like them — if anything it sounds different because of the evolution of the group itself.

Being such a large group can be a double-edged sword — it allows for so many different ideas, but also it’s hard for everyone to be heard and for all the tracks to be completely cohesive. Some of the songs don’t necessarily feel like they fit with the rest of the album. However, this album fits with the other music they’ve made without becoming boring.

On “BERLIN” the use of an engine rev for a beat is very clever and adds character to the song.The album opens with “NEW ORLEANS” and flows directly into “THUG LIFE.” To me, this brings a Pink Floyd-esq feeling which is nostalgic. I wish they used this on a few more tracks as I think it would’ve been an interesting addition. Also, I like how they share the same beat along with some of the same effects, even though they sound like completely different songs.

The album has the right balance between slower and more “hype” songs. This allows for the album to actually be listened to all the way through. Tracks like “J’OUVERT” have lots of energy, while something like “TONYA” helps bring it back and slow down the mood.

One thing that particularly struck me on this album was how some songs would start and you’d predict that something would happen, but then what you were expecting would never happen. On “SAN MARCOS,” the beginning feels like it is building up to a drop, but instead it goes to a soft guitar. It completely throws you off, but it’s really refreshing for it to not be predictable. I feel like so many musicians are too intimidated to take risks in their music, and that’s why I like BROCKHAMPTON and why I like this album — they break “rules.” They have such a cult-like following they are sure that their music will be well received.

Overall, this album to me was a hit. I have listened to it dozens of times, and I haven’t gotten sick of it. It’s a dynamic, well produced album, and if you like rap, I highly recommend giving it a listen.