by: Sun-J
Its been a minute since weve heard from the well-respected DJ Krush, more specifically, two years. His 2001s release of Zen was melodiously sonic as it was electronic. The forty-plus year old producer is back again with his seventh release, Message at the Depth. As usual, Krush handles the main beatmaking tasks ensuring an album full of transnational, eerie, dark, and dry electronic breakbeats fused with colorful dabs of dub and other influences. Stocked with eleven tracks, Krush does a splendid job in pacing himself, there are no superior, or blatantly standout tracks on the album. On the leadoff track, "Trihidron," Krush shares beatmaking responsibility with the edgy group OPUS(consisting of Mr. Echoes, and Bunny Killayes, thats right, his alias is Bunny Killa). Packed with gargling patterns and a recycled freak show loop, the song stimulates interest and represents early 90s electronica. The following track, "Taki No Tabiji (Journey of Time)," features Japanese rapper INDEN. Despite the fact that I cannot understand one word he spits, his flow is undeniably contagious and enchanting. "Supreme Team" features the unorthodox rapping of Antipop Consortium. This was before their split, yet ironically may represent a good indication of why they broke up (Joking, but seriously, this track is wack to be exact. No offense to APC). The following track, "Blackhole" is a nine-minute spookfest with a dark, scary soundscape backed up by repetitive parabolic loops. "Song For John Walker" is lyrically amazing. Krush brings the heat, and backpackers Anticon deliver the punch with witty ("Theres a little Johnny Walker Lindh in every Meadow Creek Middle School") political lines touching on such topics as Bush and war; "He wanted hammer pants, he joined the Taliban." "Alepheva (truth speaking)" features the sultry of sexy Angelina Esparza (If you want to know how sexy, check the music vid for this song included on he CD). Smooth and deep with her words, she belts lines such as "Open refrigerator door, all the same products as before, cant find new places to explore, born with five senses but we see, much less of world reality, do you believe your lunch is free?" Esparzas voice is a true weapon, and her lyrics provide the explosion. Speaking of explosion, "But the World Moves On" is an instrumental explosion featuring multi-instrumentalist D-madness and sax/flute player Masato Nakamura.
The last track on the CD I felt could have been omitted. "What About Tomorrow" featuring Raggae singer Abijah, is too clustered with Reggae Cliche. Like many Raggae songs, its full of anti-government lyrics, and a feeling of a child freedom movement. Overall though, Message at the Depth, is another electronically dense album full of dark surprises and ridiculous breakbeats, though the main strength of this album, is the diversity of talent guest appearing.
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