The Angel, super-mistress behind such endeavors as Jaz Klash and 60 Channels, has decided not to allow herself to be pigeonholed on her solo debut album. Spanning the gaps between hip-hop, dub, reggae and jazz, she has concocted a potent musical mix that exudes cool mastery and undeniable hipness.
A few key collaborators in the vocal department help put the finishing touches on The Angel's deft, downtempo, urban sound. Pharcyde's Tre Hardson drops the rhymes on "Make it Betta", Mystic performs lyrical magic on "Baltimore", and Freestylers' Navigator fires verbal ammunition on several tracks. Smart urban music like this, of the same ilk as De La Soul, Digable Planets or Black Eyed Peas, doesn't get the market attention it deserves these days thanks to Puff Daddy and Co., but it's great to know it's still being made.
A primer to The Angel's sound can be found in the title track. In it, I see a less-layered, more fluid version of DJ Shadow. The mellow beats are so smooth that the intermittent dubby bassline slides right along with them. "No Gravity" could succeed on the strength of its dreamy atmosphere alone, but capable construction makes it that much more brilliant. The opening track, "Make it Betta", is also well done. The hip-hoppiest cut on the album, its super-cool attitude recalls Digable Planets, and Tre Hardson's subdued rap style is the perfect foil for The Angel's subtle music. "Unda Pressure" is where the island influence is most clearly heard. Take Jamaican-style rapping from Navigator and drop it on a confident, if a bit spacy, dub mix, and the magic is complete.
I'm happy to recommend No Gravity. It's a fine example of smart, cool urban music that succeeds on style and grace rather than swagger. I'd like to hear more of this kind of thing.
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