Philly rhyme fanatic Baby Blak more than holds his own in this tale of holding his head, and he does so over three very different mixes. King Honey‘s Early Mix is militant and accented with staccato stabs, while his LateMix evokes rap‘s earlier electro era and lets Blak‘s rhymes float over the track without losing any of their weight. The Scritchmix version takes it underground, quite literally; the blips and distortion make it sound as if there‘s pound of dirt lodged in the sampler.
Dub Syndicate Pure Thrillseekers
On Pure Thrillseekers, the “world‘s greatest dub band” provides the sonic backdrop for some of reggae‘s finest vocalists. Cornell Campbell returns to classic form on “Tricks” and Gregory Isaacs sings a sufferer‘s song on “Kingston 14,” but Luciano steals the show with his plaintive “One In A Million.” Lest you think the band has forsaken their name, the album features a number of brilliant dubs. “Guns & Cocaine Crime” incorporates digital sounds alongside a country harmonica and minimal vocals from Jah Bless, and “Private Dub” is an even sexier mix of Isaacs‘ “Night Nurse” sequel “Private Secretary.”
Horace Andy & Mad Professor From The Roots: Horace Andy Meets Mad Professor
Horace Andy teams up with the legendary Mad Professor on 14 new tracks with horns by Dean Fraser and drums and bass by Mafia & Fluxy and the legendary Sly & Robbie. Mad Professor‘s modern adaptations of roots reggae suit Andy best (much better than the light jump-up of “Girl Don‘t Come,” where Andy sounds lost). His voice, which has aged well, is as righteous as ever on rootsy tunes like “Babylon Bridge” and “The Bingy Man” and fits perfectly with the steppers sound of “Don‘t Beat Her” and the heavily dubbed “Change Your Ways.”
Various Artists Simply Good Music Volume Two
Sure, you could argue that Raphael Saadiq‘s “I Know Shuggie Otis” is neo-soul, but that would sell it short in a way that the emotional vocals and wailing guitar never would. And you could say that Los Amigos Invisibles‘ “Esto Es Lo Que Hay” is nothing more than a reggaeton sabor del mes, but you‘d be glossing over the dub-like horns, beautiful harmonies, and infectious cuica. But more than any other track, it‘s “Your Day Is Done” by the Platinum Pied Pipers with Georgia that proves that this compilation‘s title is perfect: it‘s all good music, simple as that.
Scavone Revolution Now
Gruff-voiced underground vet Scavone (formerly Don Scavone) dropped his mob title, but hasn‘t lost a step on the mic. On “Revolution Now,” he speaks on the ills of the world and the music industry over a smooth uptempo beat (don‘t let the opening rock guitar fool you). He even tries his hand at singing on the hook, and while it‘s not his strong suit, he could‘ve done worse. The flip, “Back In The Day,” finds him reminiscing about hip-hop‘s simpler days over a soulful loop.
Benny Sings I Love You
Dutch songwriter Benny Sings‘ new album is a well-crafted, loving re-creation of ‘70s pop filled with some of the era‘s most egregious clichés: harmonica fills, up-with-people lyrics, and songs about rainbows. It‘s about as edgy as the Sesame Street theme song. But that‘s not the point. Benny‘s sappy, saccharine lyrics and romantic odes are an attempt to recapture innocence lost, making this album a very guilty pleasure best enjoyed alone. Would you have these lyrics-“Make a rainbow of 12 different colors…and piss off the clouds”-blasting at your next party?
Mars Black Folks Music
Coming out of Nebraska, where “all we got is beef,” Omaha rapper Mars Black has a credibility gap before he even opens his mouth. Dropping his debut on Team Love-a label co-owned by emo wunderkind Conor Oberst-doesn‘t help. But Mars doesn‘t deny his hometown has more cornhuskers than cornrows as he drops witty lines about the Midwest while rapping about universal themes. Occasionally, Mars gets muddled in backpacker clichés or stuck on DJ/producer E. Babbs‘ stale beats, and things sound as flat as a cornfield. But his skills make this a respectable first effort, not just some cuts from the country.
Various Artists Monika:Force
Collecting 19 tracks from 13 artists (not including remixers), Monika: Force shows the Monika Enterprise label‘s strength is not rooted in any concussive propulsion; rather, it confidently embraces that pop trope: the hook. Since 1997, Monika Enterprises has nurtured a roster of artists-including Barbara Morgenstern, Chica + The Folder, Figurine, Contriva, The Burka Band, and Cobra Killers-for whom cyclical melody supercedes momentum. There‘s also something subtle and caressing about each song here, something feminine in the chiming, folkish flourishes. Perhaps alluding to a generation of Germans rebuilding broken homes in patchwork cities through hybrid technology, this collection of rarities exudes a welcoming electrocoustic aura-computer music more for the hearth than the concert hall.
Fischerspooner Odyssey
Since their 2000 release on DJ Hell‘s International DeeJay Gigolo label, Ficherspooner‘s full-length debut #1 has been played, played over, and overplayed. Three years since the album‘s domestic re-release, the duo of Warren Fischer and Casey Spooner return, meaning to reveal themselves as more than undulating Moroder marauders fixated on yelping artifice. For the most part-with input from Mirwais, Nicholas Vernhes, Tony Hoffer, and Linda Perry-they succeed. Odyssey is a more melodically and methodically nuanced album, but it doesn‘t stray so far from Fischerspooner‘s synth-flutter flecked trademark as to lose fans. The collaborations actually seem to imbue the work with more nebulous filament; drawing from foundational prog-rock sources makes Fischerspooner‘s Odyssey a less hollow and more rewarding quest.
Pellarin Athen
Shhhh, something‘s happening here. Something so slyly quiet, a simple blink of the ear or wistful nod of the eye and you might miss the tantalizing twinkle of ringing dub, clicking like crickets through a delicately reverberated horizon of haze. Athen‘s integrity of sound and electronic distinction calls into question the location of where process informs product. Brilliantly crafted utilizing a single sample and a customized delay set up, Pellarin expands upon an aesthetic popularized by Chain Reaction but transforms it into his own particularly illuminating blend.
