| Hmm... where to start with this Mush Records compilation. First off, some would consider this hip-hop, by others experimental, maybe even just music, regardless it's dope. This album is full of appearances from some underground-and-rising independent label crews, including Anticon, 1200 Hobos and artists Apani, Aesop Rock and Labtekwon. Anticon producer Jel leads off the album with an amazing intro consisting of British kids singing The Beatles' "I Am the Walrus" from a schoolyard playground, complete with deep resonating drums and tight cuts. Emcees Sole and Alias come with So-Called Artists, their lyrics making point of a so called lifestyle that Sole sums up with "Philosophists recycling thoughts and ideas / Yet if I could be as innovating as the next minstrel / I'd be more accepted by my peers." Alias pulls double duty coming in with the beat and lyrics while Dj Mayonnaise provides the cuts with precision. Aesop Rock commands with "The Active Element," with a bass line that nearly rivals this deep-voiced and methodical delivery. For those that haven't heard Aesop before, this is a nice example of his style, comfortable over a beat by Blockhead. why? and producer odd nosdam team up as Reaching Quiet with a five part track called "113th Clean" that is too layered to give justice in a short review. This is a track that begs for repeat as new instruments are found with each listen. Apani shines on the Nickodemus track, "The Spirit Within." As usual, she brings warmth through voice, lyrics and delivery over an uptempo track filled with finger piano and tribal chants, hip-hop rooted with solid drums and cuts. Doseone shows up solo on "Inventors Cry." His trademark voice rolls with ease over Robert Curcio's snare-led beat. Slug, emcee for the Minneapolis crew Rhymesayers, rhymes over a Boom Bip beat on "Want," a nice track with lyrics like, "I'll be the bull / The world will be the matador / Flashing its red satin sheets / And when they let me run the streets / I'll be the one with the thunder / Trying to keep all the silly humans underneath my feet." This album is a creative and fresh collection of tracks from many underground hip-hop torch-carriers and, unlike some comps, features all original songs to put Mush Records on the map. A must-buy for anyone interested in stepping outside of hip-hop's usual boundaries. - Velocity |
3XLP/Out Of Print