If the Likwid crew is a family, then Defari is the second cousin. Fortunately, he’s got enough rhyming skills to justify his familial pedigree. And this album does contain some good, though it is a bit derivative. Defari’s straight-ahead multi-syllablic rhymes sound fairly Eminem-influenced, and he’s also picked up a bad Kurupt-like habit of rhyming a word with itself-including rhyming “bitch” with “bitch.” Production is of the thumping variety, mostly courtesy of Evidence and E-Swift, but featuring a Dre-like sound. The disc as a whole is a good listen-solid beats and rhymes all around-but it’s not something that’s gonna stick in your mind for very long.
Various The Pick Up
Production is the key to this Bay Area crew. The a-side has an okay-but-not-great beat, but the track is still noteworthy thanks to tight rhymes from the massively underrated (and unknown) Gennessee. Things pick up with the b-side, “Tell U (Remix),” as Mum’s the Word’s soulful track keeps things interesting. The Blends are vets in this game, and their experience shows through in their consistently solid output.
C Money & DJ Chase Ladies Can I Have Your Attention
It figures that one of the best singles of this year originally came out in 1989, a period when hip-hop was hitting its stride. Beatnuts affiliate VIC nicely jazzes up the timeless “Impeach the President” loop to let C Money showcase some classically smooth rhyming. And the flip is straight heat: hip-hop at 130 BPM, as Money uses a Big Daddy Kane sample to warn that he’s “crushing MCs that be trying to riff,” giving a tremendous vocal performance.
Grand Agent Fish Outta water
If you’re not paying attention, this album can easily underwhelm. The overall sound is sparse, melodic and unobtrusive. Nothing about it grabs your attention or forces you to listen. But if you’re checking for it, there it is: Grand Agent’s way with words. He’s slick, smooth and sly. In today’s world of subpar MCs and superproducers, it’s rare and refreshing to hear an album on which the rhymes outshine the beats. “You checking for the raps or the rapper?” he ponders on “What I Want.” In Grand Agent’s case”m checking for both.
Senior Coconut Fiesta Songs
Uwe Schmidt a.k.a. Atom Heart is getting the baile started quickly with his latest Latin adventure. Now a full band enhanced by Schmidt’s trusty G4, Se?or Coconut tears through meringues, cha-cha-chas and mambos. But wait, what’s that riff on the timbales and vibraphone? It’s every new guitar player’s favorite-Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water.” Then it’s “Riders on the Storm” gone merengue under a hot sunset, “Oxygene (Part II)” for the epic backyard volleyball game, and a percussive, superheated version of the Gloved One’s “Beat It”-seriously! By now, we don’t question Atom, we just let him grab the band and get to swingin’, as they do on the raucous original closer “Electrolatino.”
Mogwai happy Songs For Happy People
Mogwai returns with a fourth album that exchanges its trademark post-rock traversals between so loud and so soft for a sweeter, subtler sound without dropping any intensity. It’s an enormous close-up of a heartbeat: for all of its steadiness, the secret thump and pump of blood through Mogwai’s innermost chambers nevertheless fascinates with each swell. “Killing All the Flies” expands in a molten aortic flow, heavy and thick with ephemeral, glowing heat; and “Ratts of the Capital” explodes in a furious, full-body guitar flush. Wrap your arms around Mogwai’s chest and press your ear close.
Maps and Diagrams Free-Time
For the fans of the little intimate “lovelies” camp of electronic music, a gift of Maps and Diagrams. It’s Solvent without the skitter: sheets of slender, tailored ambience and some non-intrusive but tastefully clever beats. Peaceable and pretty and non-effacing. “Do It Yourself” has a nice sheen of very high-noted strands of honey. “Ideal” is a rock-a-bye lullaby, all sweet, rich melodies lovingly brushing up next to one another like lips against soft, sleeping shoulders. “Free-Time” rouses itself for “Reabsorb My Love”‘s gently thudding static bass, and the upbeat skip of “Djur Hours” before returning to its original murmuring path. “
Manitoba Up In Flames
The cover art of Up in Flames features photos skewed through some hypercolor lens, staining all with a dense, polychrome psychedelic glow. It’s perfect for Dan Snaith’s second folktronic album, a shambling, delicately dazzling mess that sets off gorgeous pyrotechnics throughout. “Skunks”‘s pastoral, fat twanging beat fills out with sizzling walls of ambience and a flittering, free-skronking horn. “Hendrix with Ko” launches skywards with a Beach Boys ode, sunny harp and a big break, full of yellow gold rays bending at impossible angles, and ending with the super-catchiest rollicking handclap outro. For dizzying spirals you can ooh and aaah to, this album stuns and stuns again. Blaze on.
DJ Bam Bam Head Trauma EP
Chicago’s progenitor of choice jackin’ fusion appears on this young, Connecticut-based label. Solid bass lines and even tougher vocal loops decorate the platter while floor-moving rhythms instigate an upward direction. With tracks this chunky, fans of Rush, Paul Langley and Mr. Berkovi should take particular note.
Adam Jay Stasis
Indianapolis man of dirty, sensual dancefloor techno brings yet another hypnotic synth development to US soil. Funky yet deep bass tracks keep the crowd moving while a subterranean reverb colors the mix. A big sound for such a small piece of plastic, keep channels aware for future works.
