Diplo - Florida
It is albums like this that I follow certain UK based labels, in this case Big Dada and the parent Ninjatune. Yes, the label will release stuff that doesn't gel instantly with the listener (see Bigg Juss, Infinite Livez in recent times), and at other times the label will hit the spot exactly where it is needed, such as on this debut album from he who is known simply as Diplo.
Having made a name for himself with Hollertronix mix tapes (you got it ? then please let me know what its like, and if you have a spare - lets be friends !), dj sets and production credits with southern rap star David Banner he now settles down and gets his own grooves going all funky, showing the outside world his full range of production skills. the first few listens indicate what could easily be tagged as a trip hop album with its plethora of instrumental hip hop beat based tracks, but, that would be too simplistic, and with the addition of certain tracks, way off the mark.
The album opens with a serene piece of ambient mood piece with found voices and chirping insects making one feel at home in the artists youth (Diplo was raised in Florida), the track instantly recalls why DJ Shadow gets name checked whenever Diplo gets wrtten up, next however is a strange one 'Big Lost' with its looped violins and hammond organ set to the biggest hip hop beat this side of the hemisphere, with more creatures of the swamp noises (frogs, crickets ? i dunno .. and nor do I really want to) prior to the beat breaking down to a piano solo being recalled from 1945 in a strange timewarp situation .. superb stuff. As is the next mood piece 'Sarah' with its smoky jazz club like piano, slow-n-low beats and weird distorted guitar noise that drifts in out of the listeners headspace throughout the mellow vibes.. so far so all very trip hop. But lo, the next phase of the album moves into new sonic territories with 'Into the sun' with its thin electro styled beats and eerie atmospherics with a great big walloping bass boom, the added presence of vocals from Martina Topley Bird add an extra layer of splendour. I have heard though that the vocals are to be wiped off the final version of the album - a real shame as her tortured blues vocals match the modern sounds to a stunning effect - a standout track in this version. Look carefully in certain shops you may get lucky ..
Now the album has variety coming at you from all angles.'Way More' with its broken clicked beats, electro synths, old horns samples, never have such well established sounds sounded so freaky, and yet, the track works really well, even if it does unsettle at first. Whereas 'Money Power Respect' is a little too self indulgent, lots of weird noises, an unhappy sounding droning cello, more found voices and general strangeness, while it's a fascinating track there is little that holds the listeners attention, especially as we just wanna get to the dance floor killer that is the next track 'diplo rhythm - feat sandra melody, vybz cartel, and pantera os danadinhos' (these names !). Bass booms, clicky beats, thin synths sparking off disjointed noises to a visceral sonic collision effect with vocals that carry the beat into another level, blasting this from your bass enhanced boombox will definitely annoy all those around, but damn this track rips it up. Album highlight.
One just knows that Diplo has listened to classic Art of Noise and classic 70's prog rock concept albums (or then again it could be The Future Sound of London) as the epic 9 minutes of 'Works' however actually recalls an old DJ shadow classic 'Organ Grinder', with its central hammond organ riff, atmospheric voice samples, churchbells, thin beats, mournful horn melody and even running water noises again, all of which makes this a fine comedown track after the up tempo party grooves that have just passed. this 9 minute track has several sections with each part having a different feel and mood to it. If the whole album went in this direction however, then I suspect that few would be so impressed, as it is, a few over indulgent tracks spread over the hour are perfectly acceptable, especially when rapped against the beat propelled 'Indian Thick Jawns - feat PEACE' another bass boomed track and flute samples, bongo rhythms and full on hip hop party groove. And so, we are propelled into the final stretch, 'Summers Going to Hurt You' with its massively emotional use of sampled acoustic bass grooves, strings and other weird scratchy samples, when the uncredited vocal sample hits the stresses of the modern world just melt. This final piece is drawn from the same cloth as recent Broadway Project releases, making the final 9 minutes very special.
So, to summarise : Diplo is a genuine master of his game and has crafted an album of amazing sonics and in some cases quite literally breathtaking moments of aural excellence.
I can't say fairer than that now really can I ?