The debate regarding instrumental hip-hop records seems to be this: Is it just a record of hot beats for you and your friends to freestyle over (Lightweight Heavy, Special Herbs)? Or is it some shit that's going to completely transport you (Endtroducing.../One Word Extinguisher)? This leaves the middle ground, whose undisputed champion must surely be Little Johnny Escapes From The Hospital. This Company Flow release features El-P's splintered, glass chewing, post-apocalyptic soundscapes that, while leaving plenty of room for you to test the level at which you can spit your shit, still provides the twists and turns to make it a headily enticing headphone adventure. Coming up from the left is the duo Opus, presenting some of the bumpin'est analog downtempo I've heard in a long time.
Breathing Lessons trumps Fat Jon's latest for one reason: thicker mix. Lightweight Heavy possesses some of the same contemplative drifter melodies, but doesn't feature the ashen, up-front drum workouts of this album. They're both outstanding releases, and I would steer any instrumental hip-hop connoisseurs toward both without reservation. But if you're strapped over which to choose, I'd pick The Opus. It may not be that revolutionary, but it's got a sinister charm, meaty bounce (and just between you and me, it kicks Deadringer's sorry, though noble, ass), and instant cool that is inescapably omnipresent. The formula is simple, but the restraint sells it like tickets to The Haunted Mansion in the opposite parallel universe.
"Isis" announces the first and only track with an emcee. The lyrics are slightly perturbing and vague, but nothing to shake a poo-stick at. Then again, I listen to cLOUDDEAD, so I'm not one to despair over a little (properly inspired, of course) weird-for-weird's sake pretension. There isn't much rapping on Breathing Lessons, which is good because these moody breaks hit you in the ooh spot the same way RZA's instrumental beats for Ghost Dog do: transporting and nervily thumpalicious. Hey, my neighbor's hitting his ceiling to the beat! Oh wait, shit... guess I'd better turn it down some.
I can't seem to say enough good things about this album. It's like RZA at his grittiest, yet The Opus possess a creepy, brainpan searing crunk that's all their own. I'm willing to bet you won't hear any free-for-all monster mash-up shit like "The Strange Adventures of Mr. Happy" (definitely a highlight) on anything else this year. This is spooky-tooth grizzled beat alchemy at its buttshaking best.
1. Fanum's Organ
2. Mission Control
3. Earthwalker
4. Life's Endless Cycle pt. 1
5. Cycles pt. 3: Evolutions
6. Whirlwind-Guardian
7. Opus
8. Isis
9. Symbiotic
10. The Strange Adventures of Mr. Happy
11. ADDICT
More about: The Opus
