Blockhead – Downtown Science

Blockhead rolls out his second album of instrumental hip-hop, this time, a moody ode to New York City. "Expiration Date" sets the tone with a languid trumpet piping over a speed-up voice and a delicate guitar line, while both "Roll Out the Red Carpet" and "Serenade" starts off with a snippet from a distant musical before the former introduces a slightly atonal overture and the latter brings in a dreamy harp and flute combo. Indeed, many of the samples seem to come from Broadway movie musicals, such as the outro on the otherwise thrumming "Stop Motion Traffic" (although "The Art of Walking" is based around an a cappella riff). "Good Block Bad Block" gets a little thrashy, while "Quiet Storm" has a church-like organ and a horn fanfare inviting a funky prayer. A fitting tribute.