James Gardin has released Moleskines and Pocket Squares, a five-track EP produced entirely by Trebles and Blues.
The Lansing, Michigan, emcee follows his 2012 project A Little Light for You with a shorter, more focused collection built around warm samples, jazz textures and the kind of boom-bap production that sounds considerably better dressed than most.
Moleskines and Pocket Squares is Gardin’s first solo project released under his birth name after previously recording as P.H.I.L.T.H.Y. The change is more than cosmetic. The EP feels like a deliberate introduction, pairing Gardin’s conversational delivery with production that leaves enough room for the writing to breathe.
His positive outlook remains intact, but the record is not relentlessly cheerful. “Better Days,” featuring Phourthelove, acknowledges the difficulty of waiting for life to improve. “I Cry” deals more directly with despair, while “Selah” closes the project by shifting toward reflection and hope.
The lighter moments are equally concise. “Dinner for Two” settles into a smooth groove and then ends after about a minute and a half, apparently operating under the belief that leaving listeners wanting more is preferable to overstaying dessert.
Trebles and Blues handles all five tracks, giving the EP a consistent palette of soul, jazz and old-school hip-hop without making the production feel repetitive. Even at roughly 13 minutes, the project establishes a clear sound and leaves few unnecessary parts behind.