Guillermo Scott Herren is the real deal–consistently on with a sound that’s both signature and fresh time after time, Preparations is no exception. Neuromanced hip-hop grooves drawing on all flavors of samples and textures nail down cuts like “I Knew You Were Gonna Go” and “Prog Version Slowly Crushed” in an epic, synth-caressed form, while collaborations with the likes of the sister-fronted School of Seven Bells and Battles drummer John Stanier round out the package. Most of the album is Herren’s own solo brainchild, unfettered by the spit of umpteen guest MCs, and it gives him a chance to flex his craft, embroidering exotic and crate-dug inspirations into the fabric of each episodic track… Shit’s on fire.