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What do you get when you meld the glitch electronica of Autechre and Aphex Twin with hip-hop? Prefuse 73. Scott Herren, otherwise known as Prefuse 73, is one of the most innovative hip-hop artists I have heard for quite some time. Along with RJD2 and DJ Shadow, Prefuse 73 is making a name for instrumental hip-hop. On One Word Extinguisher, Herren takes the tried-and-true sample formula and warps it out of proportion, creating rhythmic beats from seemingly chaotic sampling. Speech, song and various different instruments are cut-and-pasted to create a colorful collage of sound, all with very little or no use of turntables. The album cracks and flows both at the same time. "The End of Biters" comes off in the beginning as a standard rap song, but Herren unexpectedly rhythmically cuts the vocals so that they meld into the beat rather than play over it. Its a fantastic new approach to hip-hop.
Of course, there are standard rap numbers in which the several guest rappers on the album flow over Herren's fantastically original beats. "Plastic" and "Huevos" spotlight the talented raps of Diverse and Mr. Lif, respectively. Yet despite these rappers' great abilities, the instrumentation takes precident. Prefuse's beats are so alien and ahead of their time. Just like Timbaland and Dre have crafted their own distinctive hip-hop production, so has Prefuse 73. Herren's beats are something out of the pages of glitch and techno, similar to what you would hear on a Autechre, Plaid, Aphex Twin or even Mouse on Mars album. The sounds are harsh, crunchy and sharp; yet at the same time undeniably rhythmic. Several instrumental numbers emphasize this wonderful amalgam of electronica and hip-hop. "Perverted Undertone", perhaps one of the more stable tracks (it has the fewest samples and most consistent rhythm) is colorful piece sustained by a hypnotic drum loop and a continuous sample that flows backwards a la the Beatle's "Tomorrow Never Knows". "Detchibe" is another wonderful rhythmic instrumental, albeit more crunchy and sharper in its sonic texture.
"One Word Extinguisher" is both a fantastic hip-hop and electronica album. Its beats and sonic textures alone would satisfy any fan of any artists of the Warp label (Prefuse 73 happens to be on the label as well), and the skills of its several guest rappers any alternative rap lover. It's a wonderful, weird and undeniably rhythmic melding of two music worlds. |
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