daedelus - exquisite corpse
from his base in la, daedelus has released several albums on independent labels such as mush and plug research, and has been active on the underground hip hop scene for quite a while now. so it was only a matter of time that he got connected to the ninjatune gang to get his sounds released in the uk properly, as ninjatune seem to be on a mission to snap up the best of the new leftfield hip hop producers - see releases from busdriver, ammoncontact, rainstick orchestra. a policy from which we all benefit i reckon.
though i have to admit that when i originally received this album a while ago i played it solidly, but i still wasn't sure whether i was actually enjoying it or not, so after a few days i moved on, uncertain as to my opinion.
but today i found it soothing my tortured soul in all the right places.
a soothing hip hop album ?
yup.
you see this is a very different sounding album. as daisy age hip hop plundered the soul and funk loops of the 60's daedelus has come up with the novel idea to delve into eras of music long gone past their copyright, making this one of the most legitimate sample filled slices of cut-n-paste in a long time. the sonic jigsaws are mainly built around old melodies and spoken words excerpts from the 30's and 40's musicals, films or radio broadcasts .. its a bizarre journey which doesn't provide too much in the way of club friendly bangers, but it is certainly rather special. especially the warm acoustic guitars that predominate the prefuse 73 collaboration 'welcome home' (such a highlight that the track is lovingly revisited with mike ladd on vocals later on), or the mellow hip hop groove of 'drops' (feat. cyne), or the electronica basis of 'sent off' which mutates with its acid squiqqles and rich synthetics, proving that while daedelus roots are hip hop based he delves his toes into pastures outside of the normal parameters to find a whole new style of his own - though may be the would file nicely alongside some of the anticon releases.
so if you like to hear experimental, but inherently listenable, moods and grooves then try out this fine album - a fine antidote to the current big name hip hop which is currently interested in the latest beefs and not the quality of the beats.
i think i have my opinion settled on this album - at last.