What happens when a video included on a CD distracts you from its actual songs? Pluramon‘s intoxicating “White Eyes” did just that-vertical strips of blurred colors flicker in time to what sounds like the ghost of a rambling Doors jam faithfully complemented by Morrison-like bad poetry. Nonetheless, this Cologne label‘s otherwise charming comp of abstract pop ranges from digitally ripened bluegrass (Sora & Wechsel Garland‘s infectious “Spring”) to cute, lysergic bastardizations of Amerikun country & western (Poto & Cabengo‘s “Suevian Rhapsody”).
Bus Featuring Mc Soom-T Feelin‘ Dank
Glasgow‘s MC Soom-T waxes existential dread here, but the music grows a rose garden. “The right answer is always wrong/I learned this from the day I was born,” she mopes. Berlin‘s Bus (Tom Thiel and Daniel Meteo) delivers digital dub that seems snapped together like Erector pieces-every tightly wound thud, neon-lit organ blurt, and guitar riff clunks into place as the single, “Diamond in the Rough,” attests. The only catch is that the MC‘s chirp grows monotonous over time and offsets the Bus‘ angst with camp. Still, this record marks a step forward in bridging d-dub with hip-hop.
Shadow Huntaz Valley Of The Shadow
Who knows how much of today‘s art and electronic music that projects fantastic, hep and bleeding-cut visions of the future will be feted as tomorrow‘s kitsch? That thought arose when I sat through the latest joint by leftfield hip-hop cosmonaut unit Shadow Huntaz. The multi-city crew continues to stress rap as if they pulled an all-nighter reading Philip K. Dick and William Gibson paperbacks with heads full of acid. Sure, the IDM-tinged production gets some bonus points, especially the suave acid techno of “Y” and “Deander,” but Valley may soon seem as quaint as the Epcot Center‘s World of Tomorrow ride.
Kid606 Resilience
Through his laptop‘s noise, Miguel Depedro, a.k.a. Kid606, creates as much as he destroys, loves as much as he cuts a conversation and walks away. Resilience drops that yin-yang in favor of florid emotions and declarations that lack quotation marks. Opener “Done With The Scene” and the more haunting “Sugarcoated” are synth-pop glides that peek at a sea of suburban rooftops through one Venetian blind. Depedro also explores his compatriot DJ/Rupture‘s territory with disjointed Middle Eastern hip-hop in “Hold it Together,” along with delivering slightly skewed dancehall in “Phoenix Riddim” and “Banana Peel.” Resilience places Depedro at a crossroads where it is nigh impossible to predict where he will go next. He points in nearly every direction here, and is richer for it.
Dwight Trible and The Life Force Trio Love Is The Answer
Everything about this album is placid, from Dwight Trible‘s minimalist expressions to the psychedelic and occasionally tribal sounding jazz and funk provided by Madlib, Jay Dee, Sa-Ra Creative Partners, et al. Love Is The Answer often sounds like it was pulled directly out of a dusty crate from the late ‘60s-the hippie-esque theme of “peace, unity, love and having fun” is a common one here (as is the overall deep-rooted quality of the production). However, in 2005, some listeners may not appreciate Trible‘s offbeat spouting, good-natured vocals, and overall idealism.
Various Artists DJ Craze: Miami Heat
DJ Craze may be renowned for his body-trick-heavy DJ routines, but as his new mix album proves, he‘s far from being all show. On Miami Heat, Craze captures the high-powered pulse of his city as he sews together two-dozen top drum & bass tracks with a sprinkling of his trademark turntablism. While he does lay down some precise cuts here and there, Craze more often utilizes this mix to showcase his ear for quality music (in this case d&b) and his ability to keep the high-BPM rhythm steady.
ElekTro4 Keystroke One
ElekTro4 is a smart guy. With his debut, Keystroke One, this NYC-based instrumentalist has cleverly divided his album into two sections. Part One: Portrait Of The City is a vibrant, hip-hop-driven response to living in NYC, complete with sampled rhymes and neck-snapping beats. Then there‘s Part Two: The Suicide Suite, a more downcast grouping of work complete with eerie piano and organ melodies. Almost any hip-hop fan will enjoy Part One, whereas conoisseurs of darker beats (like those of DJ Signify, who provides cuts here) will be drawn to Part Two. Nonetheless, the album is good enough to be enjoyed straight through as well.
Various Artists Project Blowed: 10th Anniversary
The Good Life Café arguably served as the most important platform for MCs from L.A. and beyond to express themselves live (albeit cuss-free) in the early ‘90s. But when the momentum of the Good Life died down some of its top alumni (Aceyalone, Mikah 9, Abstract Rude and company) went on to form their own weekly meeting place in South Central called Project Blowed. Ever since then, this mass of immensely creative MCs has had the West Coast underground on lock and Project Blowed: 10th Anniversary is a testament that the uninhibited spirit of the Blowedians hasn‘t faltered a bit. Like the original, self-titled 1995 compilation, this collection showcases a variety of new (Customer Service) and old (Aceyalone) material from these wild-styled MCs, accompanied by bouncy yet off-the-wall beats. With 20-plus engaging tracks of unadulterated hip-hop, Project Blowed continues to provide a creative outlet like none other.
Roger Robinson Illclectica
After a decade as a poet and musician-during which he‘s collaborated with The Bug and Attica Blues, and toured with Cody Chesnutt and De La Soul-Roger Robinson has finally gotten around to recording a debut LP. His distinct spoken word rhymes, delivered in a hard-to-place accent that belies time spent in New York, London and Trinidad, underpin proceedings whilst Speeka‘s Rob Mac takes care of beats. “Nicola‘s Song” (think Electric Circus-era Common) and “Scars,” the sole track featuring Robinson‘s surprisingly soft singing voice, are the choicest cuts.
Will Saul Space Between
As a DJ, Will Saul has always risked the wrath of the bores that dominate the UK breaks scene by flirting with other styles, chiefly house and techno. Space Between is an aural two fingers at those who preach the message of one style all night, and is all the better for it. “Mbira,” “Copicat,” and “Speak & Spell” demonstrate a range of influence, from Kevin Saunderson to Metro Area, and are likely to command the lion‘s share of DJ attention. The remaining downtempo numbers, peppered with contributions from guest vocalists including Ursula Rucker, ought to keep others happy too.
