Dutch – A Bright Cold Day
Enemy Soil: 2010
Purchase on Amazon
When I heard that one of the men behind Jedi Mind Tricks was working on a lounge-y trip-hop album, I couldn’t help but be skeptical. To be fair, Stoupe had done his fair share of producing that didn’t always lend itself to violent, angry, and/or political MCing — his cohort in Dutch, Liz Fullerton, previously appeared on JMT’s Servants in Hell and A History of Violence. But an entire album’s worth of jazzy, atmospheric music from these two? This I had to hear. And, damn, am I glad I did. Sure, Dutch’s A Bright Cold Day might not make for everyday listening and yes, the 12 tracks on here rarely deviate from a sly take on the trip-hop many of us fell in love with in the mid-to-late ’90s But the combination of Stoupe’s cinematic production and Fullerton’s smoky, breathy vocals is absolutely worth hearing. The two complement each other perfectly and their music makes for an experience akin to watching an indie film on a chilly, rainy evening. And, like that experience, A Bright Cold Day is best served in small doses. That being written, don’t be surprised if you find yourself repeatedly spinning cuts like the woozy “California Cloaked in Wool” and beautifully orchestrated “Just Before the Rain”. – Andrew Martin
3 out of 5
[audio:http://potholesinmyblog.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/02-dutch-just_before_the_rain.mp3|titles=Dutch – Just Before the Rain]
Pigeon Hole – Age Like Astronauts
URBNET: 2010
Purchase on Amazon
The Canadian hip-hop scene is a funny thing. While there is certainly a fair share of artists that have blown up over the years, there is a ton of talent just waiting to burst onto the scene. The Sweatshop Union of Vancouver is a collective that falls under that category. While they have worked together on several projects since the early 2000’s, members Dusty Melo and Marmalade have joined forces to form Pigeon Hole. With Age Like Astronauts, Pigeon Hole have created an album that has potential to appeal to a rather wide audience. Taking a page out of current indie-rock trends, they sampled psych and 60’s music to create a unique combination of lo-fi hip-hop, filled with plenty of boom and bap. Enlisting the likes of Moka Only and D-Sisive, the album is heavy on lyrical wit, but sometimes lacks substance. All-in-all, Pigeon Hole has crafted an album that they can call their own. While they sometimes fall short in holding my attention, I think we can count Age Like Astronauts as another win for Canadian hip-hop. – David Reyneke
3.5 out of 5
[audio:http://potholesinmyblog.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Pigeon-Hole-Light-Show-ft.-D-Sisive.mp3]
Declaime – Fonk
SomeOthaShip: 2010
Purchase on Amazon
With Declaime, the name of the game is creativity, and his creativity is in full force on his latest record, Fonk. Capitalizing on the album’s title, Declaime oozes fonk with every note and lyric. He nods to the tradition of West Coast G-funk while incorporating a liquid, electronic feel that complements the broken beat aesthetic of the drum loops. What’s fun about Fonk is Declaime’s insistence on delivering messages of unity, growth and positivity, even while lost in his own extraterrestrial universe. He gets a lift from his partner-in-rhyme, Georgia Anne Muldrow, who delivers equally freewheeling and uplifting lyrics on three tracks. It’s a short album clocking in at just over 40 minutes, which ensures that the entire project is streamlined. Furthermore, there is hardly a wasted minute. The fonky riddims are fantastic for easy listening or detailed scrutiny. Props to Declaime and Georgia for somehow managing to release a steady flow of music without compromising artistry or quality. – Zach Cole
3.5 out of 5
[audio:http://potholesinmyblog.flywheelsites.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Declaime-Warrior.mp3|titles=Declaime – “Warrior”]