Aspects Mystery Theatre? LP
People always use to tell me that I’d really like Aspects but apart from the kitschy “My Genre” track, I could never really get on board. However, now with better exposure and major label exposure, their new album is out. After picking up their 12 “Impact” on a whim, I was blown away by the brilliant call-and-response mission statement on it. I thought, I like these people a lot. I was sold when they menacingly said, “Let’s make things clear, this is our year.” Yes sir. So here we are, “Mystery Theatre”, a great album. Written with an accessibility in mind, it opens with the three most accessible singles on the album before being sombre and balladic in the middle and then picking up in the middle. It’s nice to see the ambition, not only on the production but also in the packaging and marketing of the album as well.
It is extremely well put together, featuring some brilliant Monkey Moo beat-boxing and vocal cuts. El-Eye sounds extremely pissed off all the way through, but is up against Probe Mantis as his co-hort who softens him with his unhinged filthy flow. Specify’s production here is a lot more accessible as well, using a lot of funk guitars and sharp club-heavy snares. Highlights include “Soul Sister” and the poignant “City Limits” as well as the funked out psychadelic “Off the Lip” featuring the Bees and probably UK hip-hop’s only song about surfing. I would say hip-hop’s only song but that negates “Wipeout” by the Fat Boys, which we should never ignore. Oh yes. In short, by letting their audience in, Aspects offer a much warmer album than “Correct English”. They should be proud of this, and hopefully coupled with touring with the Bees, should give them their year. They deserve it. An eclectic album with great production and excellent rapping.
Big up Aspects.
- Nikesh
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