Various Artists Undiffused Devices Review
Well, a new year and a new set of bangers deep in the inbox. The underground has been looking more than healthy for the last few years, building from strength to strength with collaborations galore, while catering to a growing movement of music fans that demand more from their artists than the generic chart pulp that has stained the airwaves for far too long.
Kicking off my journalism for 2015 i have chosen to review a release that is proud to be host to many underground UK artists. Brain-child of Spatts (The Criminal Minds/32 Troop), Undiffused Devices brings together lyricism, a form of hip hop writing growing daily here on UK shores, and britcore style beats that hark from an era when UK MCs and DJs first found their own voice. The vinyl comes from britcore wax manipulating heros Rawmance Disasters, and comes in either black or for the serious collectors, blue transparent wax.
The first track is a 'lost (then subsequently found) demo' from UK hip hop stallwarts The Criminal Minds. The familiar ripping vocals of Iceski tear the drums apart, decorated with the erratic 'sci-fi' sounds and some colorful cuts, serving as a great warm up to track two. Kicking off with sinister cyber sounds and some more lush drum play, My Dark Places is a 2014 remix of a 32 Troop joint. More old school cuts splatter this deep and dark beat while Mr. Morph and the True Element MCs take the reins to the mic. Spatts proving once again here that he knows just what the bars need to carry them comfortably and energetically to the listeners ears.
The 3rd track features not only The Criminal Minds but also the virile vocal ramblings of heavyweight UK hip hop heads Dookie Squad. Produced by the notorious Jerome Hill, with samples from the Stage Driver track taken from The Criminal Minds 'Droids You Are Looking For' EP, the track caught Dookie Squads ears, and a new incarnation was born.
The beat here is big. No scrap that, - the beat here is HUGE. Massive bass and drums that drag anyone in ear shot kicking and screaming to the centre of the dance floor. There is a lot of fun in this track, and that comes from the blatant fun the participants had while making it. Three massive tracks, and as if that wasn't enough, they are accompanied by the most popular remix from 32 Troop's Mayday release of 2014, (not previously available on wax). Sidestalker kicks off this remix with a brilliantly placed and epic sample warning of a futuristic nuclear strike, chilling and relevant in these uncertain modern times. Striking cuts give way to an array of MCs slaying the mic as if the enemy were screaming pop-rap nonesense in their faces and an air-raid siren were deafening thier ears. Raw, brutally realistic and ridiculously energetic, if this remix doesn't have you searching out the Mayday release you must be full of blue blood.
Another stomping release from Rawmance Disaster, with artwork by one of the hardest working graphic designers in the UK underground Mr. Tibbz, this is one hell of a way to kick off the year. UK MCs, producers, artists and DJs STAND UP!
Invokal - Verbalist Journalist
To order your copy contact: HERE
Or check out the digital release here:
