| Formed by long term collaborators Sixtoo and Stigg of the Dump, Villain Accelerate present their first album, Maid of Gold. Released on Mush, home of the cream of visionary hip-hop, including the likes of cLOUDDEAD, Boom Bip and Daedelus, Maid of Gold wanders far beyond the realm of traditional hip-hop to focus on wider sonic landscapes. As well as releasing his own work, Canadian-born Sixtoo already is a respected figure on the underground hip-hop scene, with production work for a string of artists including Sage Francis's debut, Personal Journals. He also regularly collaborates with Buck 65 on the Sebutones project, with whom he released an album, 50/50 Where It Counts, in 2002. But it is with his solo incarnation that he remains best known, with releases on Vertical Form and Ninja Tune amongst others. Sixtoo has become, in only a few years, one of the major players on the underground hip-hop scene. Hailing from Ireland, although now living in the US, Stigg of the Dump is a recent new comer compared to Sixtoo, yet, with just one EP, the critically acclaimed Still Alive at the Veglia Lounge, featuring Sebutones on vocal duties, he has already started to make a name for himself. Joining forces for this new project, Sixtoo and Stigg concoct a truly inspirational and evocative blend of moody instrumentals on Maid of Gold. Built around drowsy beats and atmospheric sounds, the sixteen tracks featured on this album reveal unsettling landscapes, creating what is already being described as one of Mush's most important releases. As the tracks progressively settle under the skin, Maid of Gold becomes more and more impressive. Using electronics, found sounds and sample with great care, the pair apply dense textures and craft delicate beats to develop moments of cinematic beauty. The album kicks in with an eerie sound structure that threatens to collapse at any time. As the beat draws in and the vaporous melody builds up, the mood becomes even more tensed, yet the pair appear to reinforce the foundations of this piece to bring it to life, pretty much setting the tone for the rest of the album. Maid of Gold and "Things Told" only reinforce the atmospheric canvas of this album, simply developing the melodies and soundscapes to reassess their compositions. If the use of samples sometimes appear a bit obvious (the record crackles at the start of "Paper, Boxcutter, Rock), they however fit the ambience perfectly, often simply reinforcing the Mogadon-fueled rhythmic structures. Maid of Gold could often be mistaken for the modern soundtrack of an old black and white thriller movie. The pair create here an uncompromising collection of tracks, letting them evolve slowly, leaving the listener feeling uncomfortable and tensed, yet, by working of the evocative nature of their music, Sixtoo and Stigg also provide here a rather beautiful piece of work. Drawing as much from Sixtoo's vast experience as from Stigg's fresh vision, Maid of Gold is a stunning debut, twisting the natural perspective of hip-hop to open new doors and invade new spaces. Despite its dark atmosphere, this album remains accessible and could well establish Villain Accelerate as a major act in its own right. - The Milk Factory |
2XLP/Out Of Print