Los Angeles producer Antimc sidelined ths solo debut to work with rapper Radioinactive on 2004's Free Kamal, which had something of an anything goes attitude to hip-hop production; Radioinactive's technophobic lyrics found themselves over disco-funk, flamenco guitars, electro, whatever Antimc could drum up. It's Free is less focused, more exploratory, a producer's album, and Antimc is making further inquiries into his own interests and influences. So It's Free is his calling card. "What Were We So Afraid Of?" has a twee-rock bedroomtronic bounce to it, plus the gall to quote the main riff of Reel 2 Real's jock jam "I Like to Move It." Less successful, "Cesspool City" puts stuttering drum machines and Mean Red Anthony Anzalone's emocore rants ("I don't wanna be, no fucking man!") in service of a guilt-ridden rap-Metal mishap.
But if there's a common thread to the genre-hopping, it's Antimc's decision to leave no tone usual, no instrument without rhythmic consequences. The guitars on multi-part rock opener "Ten Days Out" sound like trumpets, while Busdriver's gravelly science-gone-wrong warbling does double duty on "Bellies Full of Rain," dominating as both rhythm and bassline. On indie-folk number "The Nogoodnick," flat syncopated white noise scratches across the pan, while snare drum clicks patter out 16th notes in response deep in the mix. The hard driving electro beat of "Canadian Dream" grows busy and languishes to compliment guest rapper Cadence Weapon's remarkable on-the-dime flow control. Antimc's sound bank may be (cough) cheap, but no matter. This is expert detailwork - felt first, heard later. - Wire |
1XLP/Out Of Print