| In a music industry filled with banality, it is good to know that the boys from cLOUDDEAD can be counted on to deliver a mind-bending slab of free-jazz/hip-hop every so often. The Oakland-based trio of Doseone, why?, and odd nosdam use computers, samplers, keyboards, an organ and drum machines along with a bird flute, guitars, drums and various vocal noises to create a sonic landscape unlike anything you'll ever hear on the radio. The pure sound of Ten is reason enough to listen to cLOUDDEAD's latest release. What raises the group above other free-jazz/hip-hop noisemakers is its lyrical brilliance. On tracks such as "The Teen Keen Skip," "Son of a Gun" and "Rifle Eyes," the trio of rappers combine surreal lyrics with pointed social and political commentary. On other songs the lyrics seem to make no sense until you realize that the words were chosen for their sound rather than their meaning, effectively making the vocals another instrument in the overall aural swirl of the track. There is plenty innocuous, unchallenging music to be found on major labels and radio. For something a bit more complex, and vastly more rewarding, independent groups such as cLOUDDEAD provide a much-need dose of artistic finesse. - Tucson Citizen |
1XLP/Out Of Print