Mush Records has had a past of surprisingly unique and refreshing releases. Jel's 10 Seconds is no different. Named after the amount of sampling time allowed on a SP-1200, this release pushes the envelope of hip-hop instrumental albums further into a world of creativity, rather than compromise. Not only is there a short history/forward on the SP itself included in the liner notes, but more than half the album in named after functions found on the machine. It is always refreshing to hear how producers can piece together albums based around their own ideas, rather than share the forefront with outside influences.
Jel puts his cuts together with finesse and sampler savvy techniques comparable to Shadow or Krush. Songs drop into a fresh, rarely tapped side of sample based music. Not sticking to the usual hip-hop based formulas, the album almost creates a genre of it's own. The drums pound with full and beefy tracks from start to end, (what else would you expect with an album named after an SP?) while the other tracks effortlessly ride over the top. Rhythm is the name of the game and without a doubt, Jel's skills on percussion sequencing is crushing the comp. - Insomniac |
2XLP/Out Of Print