Another day, another hip-hop CD...

Hip Hop Week Part 2...



Definitive Jux Presents III

The usual high quality hip-hop, pretty much faultless. If there are any problems it's that some of the old skool Dukies (El-P, Mr Lif, RJD2) are over shadowed by some of the others. Aesop Rock contributes production duties to a couple of tracks proving that he's not just an MC; El-P's second in command Nasa manages keep up with anything El-Producto can do on his own on the track by Carnage. Actually, the more I try to describe the other tracks on the album, the more I realise that I'm just going to end up gushing about every track on this album, I think we'll leave it there and I'll refer you back to my first sentence for the overall assessment.

OK, let me try to do this before I fall asleep.



I've been on a little adventure, I've been to see Sophia again - and well, they rocked! Took a bit of effort to find the damn place, I'm used to seeing bands in venues that aren't in shopping centres, that will teach me not to get proper directions. I managed to get to the Islington Academy eventually, after actually looking at the address on the ticket properly, missed the support band so it wasn't all bad news - support acts always get on my nerves a bit.



Sophia started off with some of there older songs So Slow and If Only got an airing, both very gentle numbers obviously not to the taste of the IGNORANT FUCKERS STANDING NEXT TO ME WHO WOULDN'T SHUT THE FUCK UP! (sorry, had to get that out of my system). As the set went on, things got heavier and louder until it reached its high point: Desert Song #2. I guess I should apologise for going on about this song, but fuck it - it's just beautiful, it's one of the few songs I know exactly where I was when I first listened to it. The lyrics get to me at a very personal level, and the music itself: the way it starts from a bare audible guitar riff slowly introducing the other instruments until just when you think the song has reached it's conclusion it stops and you get the quiet before the storm that is the last 90-odd seconds of pure joyous noise, chokes me up I'm telling you... I'm getting a bit over the top aren't I? Sorry.



Anyway I'm too tired to write, let's skip to the end: I enjoyed the night, there are a few pictures here in case you're wondering what it looked like, and a big one here if you want a proper look.



And since I'm feeling a bit confessional: I may have lasped on the smoking front, disapproving comments should be directed to the comments section below this post.

/On the train back from London after seeing Sophia, details to follow...

I now declare this week to be Good Hip-Hop Week. The new DJ Signify album is just excellent, the more I read about Rammellzee the more I'm fascinated by him, the Mad Villain album got 9.4 on Pitchfork which must be a good sign, and the new Definitive Jux compilation is out this week.



Yes Sir, this is going to be a very good week for hip-hop, I can feel it in my bones.

Hip Hop Week Part 1...



DJ Signify - Sleep No More

Sweet Zombie Jesus! This is good, this is very good! Lex Records, Warp Records hip-hop off-shoot, have been purveying some excellent hip-hop based wares in there short life (Hymie's Basement, Dangermouse & Gemini, Tes, Boom Bip to name a few) but this one is way ahead. Mainly instrumental, with guest vocals from the Henry Rollins of hip-hop: Sage Francis, and the... well, I don't know, I havem't really heard him much: Buck 65; this album has one main trick to keep it head and shoulders above the rest - atmosphere, it's as dark as fuck! You know that scene in Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader is seen putting his helmet on and getting out of his chamber? Well, this is what he was listening to before heading off to lop his son's hand off... Excellent stuff, possible album of the year material.



Blockhead - Music By Cavelight

OK, How do you follow the Signify album - well for one lighten the atmosphere, not too much, but take some of the fear away - maybe speed the beats up a little, and ditch the scary rappers. Oh, look here's the new CD by Blockhead (whose also produced some Aesop Rock tracks - who has kindly donated some instrumental versions to a bonus disc here) to fit the bill almost exactly. Very good, fans of other instrumental hip-hop producers - I'm trying my best not to say it, but I'm going to have to relent... DJ Shadow - will enjoy this.

Steve Coogan in a Jim Jarmusch film? Did I miss something?