E-40 – Block Brochure: Welcome To The Soil 1, 2 & 3
One school of thought says that a great album is an exercise in knowing what to leave out. Another, which may only apply to this three album set, asserts that if you’ve got it, you may as well show it off. E-40’s Block Brochure takes in mob music, hyphy-style tunes, reminiscences, brags, cautionary tales, slow jams and more. If it was one album it’d be perfect. As three, it’s a little overwhelming, but never flags.
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Laurel Halo – Quarantine
With the exodus of London bass-heads towards housier pastures, Hyperdub is showing way more nous than Warp when the arse fell out of proggy electronics in the 90s by expanding its horizons beyond the dub leanings of almost all its roster. Laurel Halo’s Quarantine would be a compromise for the identity of any label with an established identity, though. Rightfully met by all comers with a colon and letter ‘s’ emoticon, Quarantine requires a temporary restructuring of your brain, or even a full-scale semiotic whitewash to truly embrace – the challenge is more than worth the pay-off.
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Actress – R.I.P.
Another 2012 boss who missed his chance to shine on stage here (though, at least Nina Kraviz caught her flight), Actress ironically reached critical mass in Dublin by trending briefly upon missing his Forbidden Fruit gig. No matter – R.I.P. is an album for introspection, as all his recent masterful releases have been. Nothing could touch Burial’s Kindred EP for sheer sonic majesty, but Actress more low fidelity approach offers more growl, and is a way, way more accessible record than London geekwads would have you believe. Builds the scene in the first act, hits its stride in the second, and calls for an ovation by its finale.
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Rick Ross – Rich Forever
Rick Ross has an impeccable ear for beats, the sway to get whatever guests he wants and the kind of boss belly that makes every utterance seem to carry huge weight, for want of a better word. Rich Forever is only a mixtape, but hot streaks are flimsy things and this, with street hits like Stay Schemin’ and mobbed out music like High Definition, seems like it could represent a peak. God forbid.
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Voices From The Lake – Voices From The Lake
In techno, pacing is everything. The understanding of an atmosphere, hidden melodies hinted at, dropping the goddamn kick drum, it all adds up in the by-now clichéd idea of a techno track as a journey. Donato Dozzy and Neel understand it all better than most. Voices From The Lake is a singular vision of ambient techno, a masterpiece of form, tone and texture, sucking you in to unbearable depths before that kick drum makes you believe you can breathe underwater.
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