Nature Sounds is a fresh indie label stationed out of New York, which emerged steadily since releasing the indie Hip Hop compilation treat, “Con-vexed.” Entirely produced by Nature Sounds’ head master, The Prof. Since “Con-vexed” hit the stores; Nature Sounds established a household name by dropping quality material from solid artists. One of these emcees happened to be Shaolin’s finest, Masta Killa, whose solo debut “No Said Date” placed Masta Killa and Nature Sounds on the tongues of just about every indie critic and reviewer.
To set forth a larger scale of releases in 2006 Nature Sounds has prepared a teaser for its upcoming releases cleverly titled “Natural Selections.” The label is set forth to include Pete Rock, Strong Arm Steady, and also releasing the highly anticipated Ghost and Doom epic collaboration “Swift & Changeable.” Also in the near future is the Tragedy and Raekwon pairing titled “The Cartel,” not to mention the label’s first punch, enforcer “Masta Killa,” who’s on deck again with his second solo offering, “Made in Brooklyn.” It makes perfect sense to enlist Masta Killa as the opening act on this solid compilation.
Masta Killa and Detroit beatsmith Bronze Nazareth twist and interweave ideas to produce “Ringing Bells.” This song clearly outshines most, if not all the work Masta Killa put into “No Said Date.” Nature Sounds believed in this song so much that they decided to press this song up as the first single for “Natural Selections.” It’s a Bronze Nazareth track that sets a new standard for chopping and rearranging retro soul music. Soul Brother # 1, Pete Rock comes into the action by incorporating both Raekwon and Masta Killah to a run down on “The P.J’s.”
Many will want to check this release to witness a sneak peak of the chemistry between Ghost Face and M.F. Doom alongside each other on “Angles.” Doom’s sampling is unique and tasteful. Furthermore the song lyrically takes a voyage into the world of Charlie and his crime-stopping vixens.
Other notable selections include “Gorilla Rap,” where Tragedy Khadafi and Raekwon operate jointly. A couple of Strong Arm Steady songs also stir flares for the West Coast.
Nature Sounds has built a nice catalog on its quest and mission to transmit its signal to the listener’s ears amidst the times where radio and BET have shown very little support for lyricists and streetwise poets.
Lying deep in the southern tip of the peninsula state sequesters a brewing hunger for sonic layered beats. These artistic inhabitants have only the taste of sweet lyrical vengeance on their minds. Their liar is that of the Hoverock label. Their first official release sets a new distinctive sound much different from the stereotyped music that normally echoes from the swamplands. “Kite Crucifix Beyond. Valium 1” makes no attempt to slow down its debut high-speed nebula.
Out of this creation spawns producers Orion Pax, Take7, and word manipulators PFM, BDS, TSE, and DJ and co-owner KEMS. From the moment the first emcee touches down on the world through “Android Joe Namath,” you can feel the mind-burning lyrical heat. Cambridge Massachusetts resident KTHEI??? drops in on the abstract and menacing “Telephone Talk Types,” which also features Chi-Town’s Vyle on the chorus.
Hoverock affiliate Lumin contributes a warm perspective on “Hell-Oh.” Inkswel induces a glowing effect over your speakers as his accent transcends the beats on “Run A Lap.” BDS kills on “Arktik.” One of my personal favorites is mic burner, Iron Ora, who contributes “Mechanically Mindless” as the compilation’s final track. Production here is structured around an oriental flavored, addicting loop. Warning, an overdose of the replay key may cause fingertips to go numb.
Those craving dark abstract musicals will find “Kite Crucifix Beyond. Valium 1” a delightful prescription to medicate the cerebral. Hoverock, with its clever experimental foray, has placed itself on a short list of new respectable labels in the indie Hip Hop circuit. You can receive your own injection of “Kite Crucifix Beyond. Valium 1” at Hoverock.com or at Accesshiphop.com.
Fresh off of the critically acclaimed second installment of the NMS series, Orko The Sycotik Alien along with partner Bigg Jus raise many eyebrows since their armada forces first entered the battlescape. Orko Elohiem continues his assault on eardrums with this, his newest instrumental submission.
Backed by multiple layers of keyboard abrasions and abundant drum refills, “Chaos is My Friend” opens with sheer volume of high tech electronic pulses on “011010 Massicare.” As Orko commences, brutal drum patterns persist on “Life In Emergency.” The track unravels in a serene manner for those seeking levitation stages and the mind-bending of four-dimensional objects. Set your CD device to track seven for a compound effect on the hard driven arrangement “Electric Porno.”
For the NMS fans, the seven-minute score titled “Chaos Is My Friend” is a sound reminiscent of past Nephlim compositions.
With Orko’s “Forbidden Physics” release on Big Dada upon the horizon, “Chaos Is My Friend” is another timeless instrumental project from an earth specimen who remains a prevalent force for this cross genre artist.
