The time has come to pull the plug on bands like To Rococo Rot-talented fellows, but prone to flogging dead horses all the same. On Hotel Morgen, the Germans are but shadows of their former selves, passing off lazy electronic squiggles as fully-formed songs. If there’s redemption to be found here, it comes in the form of the album-opening “Dahlem,” a midtempo schaffel piece which serves only to raise hopes before the debacle to come. Alas, computerized folk never sounded as tired as it does here.
Sofa Surfers See The Light
Bracketed by a pair of epochal caf»-approved remixes (Richard Dorfmeister’s “Sofa Rockers” and Thievery Corporation’s “Can I Get a Witness”), See The Light offers a frustratingly fleeting glimpse of these splendid Viennese dub specialists. Infinitely more rugged than any other lounge-style dub act, these four Austrian producers are herein ill-served by their collaborators, a lame cast of quasi-intellectual MCs whose verbose poetics choke the Surfers’ spooky echo-chamber ambience. Is it too late to request an instrumental version?
Vadz Spiderman EP
You won’t hear a more rhythmically disorienting track than Vadz’s “Monster Zink,” which batters you with queasy rave stabs and has you rolling on the warped, bass-buckled floor. Flecked with delicate harmonies, lead cut “Abstraction” further heralds a dark talent worth watching.
Menu: Exit Vool EP
Germany’s Menu:Exit (Markward Wagner and Ralk Pytlik) returns with the four-song EP “Vool,” incorporating a crunchy, Boards of Canada sort of sound with gloomy keyboard textures and evocative acoustic guitars. The title track sets the downbeat mood of the release, while “Cherlisc” and “Lyf” keep things slow and low with clip-clopping clicks and beats.
Various Artists DJ Nu-Mark: Hands On
Nu-Mark is a very dope, very underrated DJ, and this CD won’t do much to change that. It’s smooth from beginning to end, but it really doesn’t do justice to what Nu can bring to the tables. For a mixtape called Hands On, there’s very little hands-on wax manipulation, which may disappoint those looking for Nu to flex his considerable skills. He does set himself apart from the crowd, though, by including a chunk of good, unheard foreign hip-hop as well as his slammin’ collaboration with “Chali 2na, Chali 2na Comin’ Thru.” This mix is a solid listen, but knowing what it could’ve been diminishes what it is.
The X-Ecutioners Revolutions
Turntable music may finally be ready to graduate middle school, and the X-Ecutioners are at the head of the class. The greatest challenge the trio faces is translating their skills into album format, and they try many approaches with varying results. They take it back to the original school on “Live from the PJs” by backspinning classic breaks while MCs get loose. But the remix of White Zombie’s “More Human Than Human” (featuring Rob Zombie and Slug) seems like an attempt to recapture the Linkin Park collab “It’s Going Down,” and doesn’t fare well. All in all, though, the hits outweigh the misses, and the X-Ecutioners have matriculated with honors.
Pete Rock Soul Survivor II
This album may not save hip-hop, but it should give Pete fans what they’ve been missing-particularly those who want to hear him get back with CL Smooth, who pops up on a couple tracks. Similarly, Pete makes a terrific team with Pharoahe Monch (“Just Do It”) and Skillz (“One MC and One DJ”), but other collaborations, such as the forced “Warzone” featuring Dead Prez, don’t fare as well. A few missteps aside, the chocolate Boy Wonder’s still got it, and hip-hop heads everywhere should be glad.
Breakage/Alias So Vain
Hot off the heels of storming anthem “So Vain,” Breakage delivers another pair of dub shakers. “Plum Fairy” starts off with ethereal vocals and sweeping synths, before his signature crisp breaks roll over an enormous wall of bass. Turn this baby over to find Breakage teaming up with DJ Flight to form Alias, whose “Admit to Love” continues the dub funk revolution.
Junior Cartel Supernatural Love
The Junior Cartel trio delivers “Supernatural Love,” a sultry, uplifting workout propelled by a repetitive female vocal that keeps you locked over stepping beats and subtle, driving bass. “Stay” continues the same soulful vibe, combining a feel-good vocal lick with shuffling breaks, jazzy Rhodes and a warm tickle of a low-end.
Hangar 18 The Multi-Platinum Debut Album
Def Jux releases always leave a certain taste in your mouth-as if you just picked up and chewed one of the million pieces of gum off the NYC streets-but it’s a good taste. And that same raw and gritty flavor that turned Cannibal Ox’s Cold Vein into an instant classic reappears here, making Hangar 18’s debut a satisfying listen. Hungry rappers Alaska and Windnbreez trade high-energy verses over a heavy, El-P-cloned production style courtesy of paWL. Despite all their bombast, Hangar 18 are best on more their more introspective tracks such as “Boombox Apocalypse” and “Take No Chances.”
