Black Grass

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Disc 1:
#	Track Name	MP3 Sample
1	Grass Roots	MP3 sample

2	Easy feat. Blak Twang	MP3 sample

3	Score	MP3 sample

4	Going Home feat. Ra Khahn	MP3 sample

5	Aporia	MP3 sample

6	Nice Up	MP3 sample

7	Reprise	MP3 sample

8	Bang (Turn It Out) feat. Supa TC IZ	MP3 sample

9	The Finest Thing feat. Ra Khahn	MP3 sample

10	Self Assessment feat. Maylay Sparks	MP3 sample

11	Ain't The Man feat. Mango Seed	MP3 sample

12	Toys	MP3 sample

Smoke Notes

Often albums come with marketing notes proclaiming them to be the next big thing, the best thing, or even the future of music, and most of the time you end up disappointed, feeling a bit ripped off as the next big thing blurs into the same old thing. Not Black Grass thankfully, who come with their self titled debut amid gushing reviews and praise, and unquestionably deliver the goods. Flatmates Carl and Mex have had a rich if short history in the British hip-hop and breaks scene - the Brighton based DJ's have played alongside most of the UK's leading players and run a night called Grass Roots, with the guests as diverse as drum & bass futurists London Elektricity and hip-hop historian DJ Format. All this has added to an eclectic production style that takes in many different styles of music and works. Hip-Hop comes in the form of "Toys", a song that brings to mind Soul Of Mischief's classic '93 Til' Infinity', outstanding British rapper Blak Twang guests on "Easy", a song sure to hit the clubs. Elsewhere Malay Sparks delivers a typically dark sermon on "Self Assessment", while Afrika Bambaata's son Super TC Iz, suits the uptempo "Bang (Turn It Out)" perfectly. The duo's production is accomplished and slick throughout, bringing to mind other genre hoppers like Mr Scruff, Death In Vegas ('Dead Elvis') and Groove Armada. On non-hip-hop cuts "Going Home" and "Nice Up", the basslines and and arrangement really shine, the music taking in the influence of UK garage, nu-jazz and a dose of pop - the resulting music similar to the early material of Massive Attack yet with a modernist approach, and with an equally wide ranging appeal. Black Grass' debut has already been rated by many as a contender for album of the year, and its hard to disagree - this is an album for everyone and any setting, funky enough to work on the dancefloor, yet thoughful enough for a night on the couch, and frankly it's easy to see why the likes of Ashley Beedle, Roots Manuva and Portishead's Andy Smith have given the album so much high praise. Isn't it nice to think that for once the next big thing actually deserves the hype ? Recommended.

Product Details

Artist: Black Grass
Album: Black Grass
Cat #: IR5203CD
Date: 22/04/2004
Format: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Label: Catskills
Usually Ships: 2 - 6 days
Genres: Dance , Pop , Rock
Normally: ~~$37.95~~
SmokeCDs Price: $29.95