Expressing Views is obviously illegal
His music is warped. His album is alike in some ways to a William Burroughs novel, incorporating the 'cut-up' technique at every available moment. The 'I've Said All I Need To Say About Them' intro is just like a collection of random recorded instances, schizophrenic and warbling, but slipping gently into the smooth single 'Hide Ya Face' with Ghostface from Wu Tang, and Laserface. It's a good hip-hop tune and one of the only songs on this album to stick pretty rigidly to musical form.
Full of little interludes, interjections and bits and bobs, this album is more of a sonic experience than a selection box of choons. 'Ty Versus Detchibe' is a cool yarn, interspersed noises flowing from brash techno whacks to smooth jazz swells and tremolo organ samples. It's interesting and satisfying.
Guillermo Scott Herren, the solo man behind Prefuse 73, with this album isn't trying to conform to any presets, with the proliferation of general rubbish in music today, Prefuse 73 come as quite a welcome relief, he is a sort of hip-hop equivalent to fellow Warper, Aphex Twin. 'Pastel Assassins' is a beautiful little song, slipped into the middle of mad noise track and taking the mind away to soulful places. It features Claudia and Alejandra Deheza whose voices, resembling the lovely duet of Laetitia Sadier and Mary Hansen, caress and soothe you.
Featuring Camu is 'Now You're Leaving' and it's a wicked track, followed by 'Gratis', which employs some brilliant cuts and zips and spins and really gets your head turning like a washing machine in amazement. 'We Got Our Own Way' is a nice number at 11, resembling in slight abstract way The Mars Volta's 'L'via L'viaquez' with some sumptuous Latino techno snippets...
The samples used throughout this album are really cool and there's no better way of saying it than that. The record flits from hither to thither, with occasional pauses for reflection here and there. It demonstrates a non-standard format that could and should form a blueprint for other modern groups to follow. This music is on the edge, Prefuse 73 have rescued hip-hop's soul and created a killer sonic masterpiece with the shrapnel and debris of what was a floundering genre.
'Sabbatical With Options' is a good, strong record crammed into a crevasse between the mad 'Mantra' and 'It's Crowded' which Claudia Deheza makes eminently sexy with her vocals, the sweeping soundscapes are hallucinogenically rich and spiritually lifting. The infamous Masta Killa and Gza, who had joined Ghostface in the awesome Wu Tang Clan are back on 'Just The Thought', which is a fine, flowing flash without fault.
Just as a reminder, an instrumental 'Hide Ya Face' appears again towards the end of the album, which works very well and then 'Morale Crusher' comes and rips it up! A funny and witty satire discussing everything from terrorism to vomit and edible faeces, it's over in moments but it was snazzy. 'Minutes Away With You' hints at winding down and signing off for the night, but this album's been a good experience and there's no doubt about that.
Yes, this certainly is an album that accumulates respect as it progresses from track to track. It's long but a mighty worthy listen. The 'Rain Edit Interlude' a gorgeous slice and dice affair just before you leave, a particular highlight on this album, slotting into place just right just where it is. The execution on 'Surrounded By Silence' is pretty spot on.
Then it's down to 'And I'm Gone' to say goodbye and it does so very efficiently, really completing what is quite a masterpiece. Look out for Prefuse 73, if you've any envelopes you need pushing, this guy is for you!