After hearing "Vein" on DJ/Rupture's "Gold Teeth Thief" mix umpteen times (and lovin' it every single time) I finally got my arse in gear and purchased Cannibal Ox's full length contribution to hip hop and electronica...oh what a clever boy I am!
From the outset this album is jammed full of witty and sharp rhymes that never descend into the expected contrived cliches territory that unhappily dominates a wide area of hip hop. Vast Aire's unmistakable voice and cadence serve to strengthen his metaphor-strewn lyrics, reminding me of Asia/Lyrics Born unique contribution to the Quannum collective.
But the real star of this album is El-P who single-handedly lays down a whole new template and set of values for hip hop production. Synths swirl and layers of effects create a blanket of sonic emotion, whilst the drums rap out crisp and Vadim-like rhythms that hover on the boundaries of experimental electronica. Samples are abound, but of particular note is El-P's appropriation of Philip Glass's minimal compositions (Koyaanisquatsi if I'm not mistaken). El-P manages to combine the repetitive mantra-like ghostly voices and strings from various parts of Glass's work with his non-formulaic approach to hip hop production.
There are moments of pure bliss when these elements are combined (particularly on "Straight off the D.I.C." and a secret 15th track on the CD), which allow the Glass samples to elevate further the intensity of the rhymes and beats.
Breath-taking, staggering and immense are just some of the words that describe this milestone of an album.