| Multi-instrumentalist Thavius Beck has flexed his muscles before. He released an album in 2000 under the moniker Adlib, and has also lent his crafty work to the likes of Omid and Freestyle Fellowship. But this time he has set out under his own name, producing an ambient hip-hop album that could both shake things up and fall through the cracks. Now, when I say something like "fall through the cracks," I don't mean anything bad by that. It's just that I don't have high hopes for this album. I doubt, even with the praise he has gotten for this work and past, that this is the type of record that builds its own buzz. It's a very subdued album, something that seeps into listeners' minds and plants seeds of doubt. Doubt of the validity of other forms of hip-hop. You'll wonder, "Why don't more producers expand past the typical beats?" "Why is this noisy mess so damn catchy?" Good question. The fact is there is a whole movement of this ambient/instrumental hip-hop. Look no further than Beck's label mate the Opus. It's out there, and these guys are mixing things up. Taking the huge rhythmic beats of hip-hop and blending them with otherworldly sounds and noises. It's for fans of hip-hop, electronic and even drone. It's good, at times great... but don't expect it to be playing over the record stores PA system. Sadly, I still think we are a few years away from that. - Indie Workshop |
2XLP/Out Of Print