Slackbaba ‎– ...And The Beat Goes Om...

...And The Beat Goes Om....
...oh my god...

There's no other way of describing it.... Jonathan Smith's debut album has gotta be the Mona Lisa of sonic art. There's so many ways to describe it, it can be ambient, dubby, psychedelic, and so much more, at the same time. There is this incredible feeling that each song carries with it, it's very apparent that Jonathan Smith put his heart into this album, the sheer complexity and attention to detail each song has, it really is a beautiful thing to listen to. This is one of the very very very few albums I have been able to listen to from start to finish without taking a break or skipping a track I didn't like...

In fact, I listened to it twice in a row (reloaded the pipe in its honor, I might also add), and after that I was so thrilled, because out of the past ~100 CDs I have bought (*cough*), this has to be the very best one out of them all. A true masterpiece. I would say, to those of you who have ears, you should do them a favor and pick this album up - seriously, blind buy it, because you cannot be disappointed with something like this.

Edit: I listen to this album almost every day still, and several; uh, multi-dimensional perspectives later, I can say that this still retains its unbelievable depth and passion. There is so much going on in this music, and if you see the synchronicity in it all you'll be glad you put forth the time to listen to it. It's good to chill out to, it's good to dance to, and it's good to trip to, there is SO much to like here.

The Energizer-baba…

Slackbaba is Brighton-based producer Jonathan Smith who is gaining increased popularity within psychedelic downbeat circles… He has performed at some of the biggest festivals/parties in the UK and across Europe to much acclaim. The few compilation tracks I’ve heard from his hand were also very nice and incredibly versatile… Supposedly Johnny spent more than a year writing, wrestling, nurturing, tweaking and configuring these 8 tracks for this, his debut album …The Beat Goes OM… Released by visionary UK label Liquid Records, I’ve got a feeling we’re in for a treat… So yeah, I’ve been excited about this for a long time… Let’s hop in!

It’s been said numerous times before, but I’ll have to say it again: There is nothing slack about this baba! Really! This is a perfect example of just how amazing psydub can be… I don’t think I’ve been this excited about a downtempo debut album since Capsula’s Synthesis Of Reality released on Ajana Records in 2005… And yeah, this is not chill – it’s downtempo! Also with the distinct dub-influences, the comparison to Ganja Beat’s Paradise & Tranquility (Organic Records 2005) is an easy one to make… But for me, this is a much, much better album… There are no bad tracks here, and the stand-out tracks are falling over each other – hell, I’m impressed!

What I’m trying to say here, is that this is a very good album. The time and dedication that Johnny has put into this really pays of… The production is crystal clear and you can tell that every little detail has a lot of thought behind it… It’s an essential purchase for psydub fans, and I’m pretty certain it will go down very well with fans of psychedelic downbeat too… Any open-minded fan of crossover music really! Be sure to check it out – it’s a real treat! …Enjoy!

Favourites: 1(!!), 2(!), 5, 6(!), 7(!), 8