Low-Life | UK Hip Hop Story | Est'elle - 1980 / Don't Talk CD [V2]

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Est'elle - 1980 / Don't Talk CD [V2]

Tracklist:
1. 1980
2. Don't Talk
3. Don't Talk remix

Est'elle has been promising this for sometime and finally she has the label hook up she has needed and no longer will she be good for guest spots only. She has been the winner of Best Female at the UK Hip Hop awards for the last 3 years and this, the first release for her on her new home V2 / J-Did is absolutely heavy and well worth the time in gestation. The two track CD is just the thing that could catapult her to fame and fortune, and after seeing the UK Hip Hop cribs on channel U we really need to step up in this game as it is not acceptable for artists to be living in hovels. As Monie Love did before, may it is going to take a female to open up the market.

1980 is an extremely personal track in which Est'elle essentially breaks down her life story so far for the listeners. And a full story it is too. The narration touches on both good and bad episodes in her life like seeing dead neighbours, the effects of arson as well as memories of dancing to Kid 'n Play, Bogling and simple realities of living in a big family and struggling for cash. The production on here is luscious, well engineered and mixed. The arrangement of the different instruments compliments each other and forms harmonies, the strings giving a full aural experience with a touch of soul. It is evocative of the past for me and I guess is meant to feel like 1980.

Don't Talk is a much more clubby affair with a proper danceable beat very much in tune with what is happening now. There is a big clap of a snare, a big thud of a kick drum and some metallic percussion along with a thunderous bassline that will pump when turned up. The melodic keyboards are background material and is extenuated with the singing in the choruses. Baby Blue features and the lyrical content bars no holds in its uncompromising delivery about the perennial chirpsing game.

There is also a remix which retains much of the feel of the original the music being virtually identical, but seems a touch more downplayed, harder and additionally features a couple of guest verses from Kardinal and Skeme who flip it kinda well and hold it up for the mans dem.

In the past I sometimes had a problem with Est'elle's delivery, like when she hooked up with Blak Twang, I just wasn't feeling her on that one, but on this she sounds good, so all bodes well for the next single Free and the inevitable LP release later in the year. The CD cover is Yellow and blue picturing Est'elle seated, leg up in front of a shutter emblazoned with her logo. Simple and tasteful, but distinctive at the same time. Look out for Est'elle...

1980 Video :: http://www.estelleonline.net :: http://www.v2music.com