Lewis Parker The Options EP This is the first solo release from Lewis Parker for some time, and for that reason and for the reason that I love most of what he does, I was dying to get this on the turntable. What I heard surprised me - this isn't what you'd expect from the man who put out 'Masquerades and Silhouettes'. LP's flow is less nasal than on previous releases and there are no Star Wars references that I can see either... Track one, the title track, is a right bouncy funky track with, it seems, Dolo on production (I say 'it seems' as the only name mentioned anywhere on the label/sleeve is LP's). With a jazzy guitar sample and a nice horn loop in the background, this is a summer track. Even though I'm hearing it in the autumn, the images of London town in the summer - "when it's sunny walking up Regent's Canal" - come through strong, and the refrain "beats? we got them; rhymes? we drop them; why's that? cuz hip-hop's the only option" is a year-round philosophy! Profound also features on vocals and is nice like he always is - I want to hear some more solo stuff from him. On to track two, 'Movement and Rhythm'. This is a more laid-back track with some nice vibey beats and some smart bongo beats dropped in here and there. Supa T joins the vocals on this one, and he's progressing - the first time I heard him I wasn't impressed, but he's improved a lot and here he's sounding really on point, dropping some interesting lyrics alongside LP, on a scientific tip. "It all comes down to rhythm - that's the science right there" ''Sunflight', the final track, takes the laid-back mood a step further. This is more the kind of track you'd expect from Lewis Parker. A nice bass line with some tasty strings over the top, with the raps on a mystical level - "the skyride - sitting on time's shoulders, getting lost in the summer solstice". If the title track is a summer party track, this is a summer evening chilling with a beer or illegal substances kind of track... very nice. It's taken me a while to work out what I think of this EP. Now I've made up my mind, and as you've presumably figured out, I like it. It's an EP to listen to over and over before making your mind up, and it's got all the qualities necessary to make repeated listening totally pleasurable... Let's just hope it gets a proper release. - Flat 4 | profile © ukhh.com 1999 - 2000