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This week’s guest album review style comes courtesy of gratuitously offensive print mag Heat. Because their music review format is actually quite dull though, we’re using their film review format instead to take a closer look at the latest full-length effort from RJD2. Or Ramble John Krohn as his mum knows him…
WHAT’S RIGHT WITH IT?
The beats stupid! Always inventive and funky with those drum patterns or samples RJ doesn’t disappoint on this score once again. The production is also strong (as past form would lead you to expect) and this is slightly less self-indulgent than last effort The Third Hand for which read that RJD2 limits himself to only singing on a few tracks this time though, surprisingly, the biggest hook on the LP does actually come from Glow on which Krohn sings.
WHAT’S WRONG WITH IT?
Hmm – where to start? Well, it’s a shame those great beats are all plastered with soundscapes that call to mind nothing so much as 70s prog rock (and let’s face it – all the warning signs are there in the LP cover) – the only saving grace being that even RJD2 baulks at dropping 20 minute tracks – though having heard this – I wouldn’t put it past him next time round. Even when he does what he does best and ropes in a some rappers all we get is the leaden backpack-rhythms of A Son’s Cycle on which Catalyst, Illogical and NP fail to dazzle. Mind you none of the other guests (including Kenna and Phonte Coleman) really impress as if they too have been afflicted by the same uncertainties as Krohn himself. And what the fuck is it with those digital horns? They’re on everything and they sound like they’ve come off Apple’s Garageband.
VERDICT
Colossus would probably like to imagine itself as a beat-laden Flaming Lips standing legendarily astride the entrance to some sort of harbour of cool whereas it actually comes across as something uncomfortably closer to a beat-laden Yes that has washed up on the beaches of coffee-table land. This has all the danger and glamour of an afternoon with the kids at a ‘soft-play’ centre.
Big G’s back and he’s used the ‘D’ word! Despite this, the EP’s not as disco as you might fear. Then again, if you actually like disco, it might not be as disco as you hope. Life’s a funny old game.
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Back in the day it used to be so easy. In fact, the recipe is so straightforward it’s hard to see why so few manage it these days. What am I on about? Getting a decent rapper and a decent DJ/ Producer to actually work together of course. Jake One’s 2008 drop White Van Music was one of that year’s better hip-hop releases and the Freeway track How We Ride was one of the better tracks on it. Expectations are high then, for the pair’s collabo The Stimulus Package, released 15 February this year on Rhymesayers. In the meantime check out Jake One’s bad man wagon on the Hands On video – he’s so G he rolls in a hatchback. Better than a white van though…oh yeah and have a free mixtape on the pair of them and 
Bit too soul-y/ jazzy for my tastes (gahhh – now I said the ‘J’ word!) but hey jazzbos are people too right? Slick production and a singer with class – if you hanker for the days of Galliano and the Brand New Heavies you’d best get your wallet out innit?
Easy now! French funkster DJ Moar – i.e. he of the Tribute To B-boys breaks EP last year has hooked up with Crown City Rockers MC Rashaan Ahmad for the reggae-tinged summer vibery of Love. It drops on 7” and digital on 26 February. In the meantime you’ll have to content yourself with the video – see below links.
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings are the most authentic sounding deep funk band in the world and that’s not up for discussion. In fact they’re so authentic sounding I couldn’t believe they didn’t perform in black and white last time I saw them. I Learned The Hard Way is unleashed on 4 May this year. Let’s hope that what they ‘learned’ was not to forget to put some dancefloor belters on it – which, for all its soulful glory, were sadly missing off the last one.
DJ Mathematics puts together a compilation of sorts (presumably because RZA can’t be arsed) including some exclusive tracks including 
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