COLDCUT
Sound Mirrors
Ninja Tune
· U.K. DJ legends Jonathan More and Matt Black (a.k.a. Coldcut) return with another highly eclectic collection.
Whether working behind the boards for ’80s acts Erik B. & Rakim and Blondie and Yaz, releasing underground hip hop through their Ntone/Ninja Tune labels or dropping danceable albums of their own, British DJ duo Coldcut have always been pioneers. Their newest collection, Sound Mirrors, might seem fairly safe based on past standards, but it’s still vastly listenable, colourful and creative.
With its lilting guitars, strings and melodic vocals, opener "Man in a Garage" could have easily come off as average coffee shop background fare. But on the strength of its sputtering synth drums and glitchy bleeps, the song transcends its potential and serves as an addictive introduction. Similarly successful in making mountains from molehills, the swirling jazz breaks of "Aid Dealer" sound ideal for a cardboard box throw down.
Roots Manuva’s bubbling baritone raps add to the exotic orchestration and high-pitched chants of "Tru Skool," while Annette Peacock’s robotic vocals on "Just for the Kick" meld perfectly with the song’s laser-beam blurts and grimy typewriter beats. The raging Mike Ladd and Jon Spencer collaboration, "Everything is Under Control," is the album’s real banger. Unfortunately, Fog’s Anticon-inspired whines still fail to make "Whistle & a Prayer" listenable, and Saul Williams’s overly serious sucide prevention monologue, "Mr. Nicholls," just comes off as pointless and annoying.
Like any eclectic mix, Sound Mirrors is hit-and-miss. Fortunately, the former outweighs the latter here and listeners will surely be able to find something to love.
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