Atomica – Metropolitan

With Atomica, Christ Analogue’s Wade Alin and singer Lauren Cheatham have created perhaps the first trip-hop project truly worthy of being compared to Portishead. The similarities are apparent from the laid-back bass groove of opening track “One Day in New York City” to the slow rhythmic throb of “Gun,” but Atomica are no slavish imitators. Where Portishead was minimal and beat-driven, letting the vocals carry the melody while the programmed parts confined themselves to the drums and bass line, Alin is much less reticent to add interesting instrumental arrangements. For example, “Larsen” incorporates lush arrangements of sampled strings, while “Salt” adds a hint of vibraphones for a jazzier feel. “Recent,” one of Metropolitan’s most achingly bittersweet pieces, adds bluesy guitar riffs to the vintage fuzz and electric organs, while “Pollen” and the exquisite “Sorrow” focus on soft piano. Cheatham’s contributions as lyricist are also essential to Atomica’s distinctiveness, ranging from the concrete melancholy of urban landscapes in “Delorian” to the surreal but evocative wordplay on “Quiver.” About as far as can be from Alin’s work in Christ Analogue, Atomica is just as intense, albeit in a much subtler way, and Metropolitan is no less than a musical masterpiece. This is mandatory listening for anyone with an interest in trip-hop, chill-out music, and down-tempo grooves.

Here’s a link to a few of there tracks… my recommendation is Larsen, Amazing!

Rating – 2 Robots , 1 Star, 1 Lollipop & 1 Bolt

[VIA REGENMAG]

Katalyst – What’s Happening

OK as people get to know me better you will understand I have a true passion for Soul, Funk, Downtempo & Hip-Hop (the intelligent stuff) Katalyst is one of those artists that manages to combine them all the way a chef turns ingredients into a tasty meal. Here’s what the Herald Morning had to say about his new album;

This album will cement his place as a king of the hip hop underground and he’ll stand tall beside Madlib, The Procussions, Mark Rae, Ohmega Watts and The Roots. There’s none better.

Okay, so we know Katalyst’s first album Manipulating Agent was amazing. It’s a fact.Lots of artists get it right the first time around, there’s no pressure, no expectations, you can work at your own pace. And alot of them manage to balls the second album up, the attention does it to them, they’re not sure of who they are now that they’re in the spotlight. Did this faze Katalyst? No, thank God. He took it all in his stride, spent roughly three years getting it right and his new effort, the probingly titled What’s Happening, is just so many light years ahead of anything else on the table it’s just not funny.

Let’s consider exactly what exactly is on the table: the US is pushing monocultural cheese around the globe, yeah Kanye is pretty dope but predictable; the UK;s a grimey place right now but no one’s scaling the Roots Manuva heights are they; we’ve got the Hoods and Elefant Traks mob making big waves down under but I’m sorry, their stuff still significantly trails the stunning productions of Sydney’s very own beat maestro, on a soulful level they just can’t compete. Katalyst’s tunes simply transcend the competition, he’s a composer rather than a mere beat writer.

Heres a track called “Say What You Feel” so check-it-out!

Rating – 2 Icecreams , 1 Star & 1 Chili