| The foundation of each and every song on this debut from Austin quartet Hairy Apes BMX is a strong and sturdy one, built on an innate and interconnected sense of exactly what a groove is and how to make it work to maximum effect with minimal clutter. With keyboards, bass, vibraphone, drums, and other percussive additions, the Apes lay down track after track of easy moving funk-influenced hip-hop. There's a whole lot going on here, but it's eclectic, not scattered. Where "Relapse King" and "Jimmy Hat" push heavy on the beats, and "Fang" jumps from easy back line meandering to a blasting, hard-edged horn line, "Situboquita Fuera" is a cumbia that fits the flow beautifully, offering capable and harmonious vocals over a bouncing Caribbean rhythm. The raps are often clunky and the lyrical timing is anything but smooth, but the instrumental exertions more than make up for any break in the flow.
-Christopher Hess |
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