Throwback beats release from 2004, complete with vintage lab review from the woodman! After cutting his teeth producingAesop Rock and the Party Fun Action Committee, Ninja Tune signee Blockhead delivers 14 tracks of instrumental work on this challenging, but highly listenable debut. Those familiar with his work will know that he mixes together jazz, rock, and soundtrack samples with live guitar/violin to create a sound that’s like a dark indy score, kind of like a hip-hop Jon Brion. I’m really enjoying this album, due in a large part to Blockhead’s strong sense of composition and overall cohesiveness of sound, especially evident on the first single “Insomniac Olympics” and “Road Rage Breakdown.” However, the centerpiece is definitely the three-part “Triptych,” which comes together in a WDYSLL sort of way (ed.note: that’s dork-speak for a DJ Shadow reference). Quality listening throughout.
