|
| |
Border Crossing - Ominous
- Every once in a while hip hop recording comes along that in its experimentation with complementary genres and smooth execution speaks to the limitless possibilities of this music and art form. More than a musical listening experience, the aptly titled Ominous is a virtual audio lab churning out a killer mélange of hip-hop beats, R&B, reggae and dancehall, ‘chill out’, clever MC skills, eclectic sounds and jazz influenced instrumentals.
On their debut, Border Crossing, the West London Hip Hop collective headed by Alex Angol, Paul Mulvey, and Seorais Graham make a loud, funky noise fusing together each of their strongest musical influences, respectively, punk and reggae, rock, and jazz. The first track “No Go Area” features a mellow rap flow over a backdrop of beats, voices, and laughter that invoke the feeling of a summer block party. From this point on, throwback, cinematic themes abound, especially on the motivational “More to Life” featuring vocalist Alex Watson and the ode to the “era of the true MC,” “Original Heads.” This piece has a neo-soul, jazzy groove over which UK based, American MC Rockwell refers back to the earlier hip hop days of clever mc-ing, spinning dj records and positive music. A personal favorite, “The Return” also featuring Rockwell, thin chorus vocals withstanding, has a thumping beat and lyrics that won’t quit.
Instrumental tracks compose the other half of Ominous. The first of these pieces, “Searching for My Manuva,” is a medley of futuristic sounds, from random bleeps to light saber clashes, perfect for a video game soundtrack. On a different note, “Taxi,” offers a contemplative groove that slowly progresses to include acoustic guitar and solemn violin solos. Also striking is “Flight Path,” on which a strong melodic bass and rapping drum are eventually layered with staccato African percussion, and a symphony of strings, blaring horns, and soulful trumpet and flute solos.
Satisfied with the innovative instrumentals and seamless production, listeners may be left wanting more in terms of lyrical content. Still, Ominous presents an intriguing blend sure to quench the faithful hip-hop fan’s thirst for fresh flavors.
Reviewer: C. Lizaire
new
Reviewer's Rating: 8
Reader's Rating: 8.00
Reader's Votes: 1
Added: 6-Apr-2006
Talk to other readers about this story.
|
|
|
|
|
