This is a treat folks. There's a lot to listen to, and all of it is rewarding. Hip hop is part of it. Soundscapes and alternative worldviews are part of it. Fascination with the whole of what is now possible is a big part too. If you listen hard you'll hear a Mike Skinner sharpness, a dub and bass depth of field, sweet guitar tracks and very cool jazz drumming. Plus DJ SHADOW quality and a distinct Britishness that isn't down, out or in debt to anywhere else.
FBCFABRIC is the producer, REINDEER does the vocal overlays. It’s technically FBCFABRIC'S album, but the notes suggest a long distance full-collaboration between the two of them. Buttercuts Records help out with making the sounds available. My review CD is in a cute little cloth bag with a name label like the one you might have had in your school sports kit. I carry it around a lot.
The coolness and detachment of the work itself suggests a slow burning hope like God Speed You Black Emperor and a sullen rage to match the Aniticon collective. To the extent that is hip hop at all it’s understated and suggestive rather than in your face and blatant. Which suits me very nicely. I could listen to this all day.
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"Shake The Hand Of An Unsuspecting Victim" is a magnificent construction, and " Please Call Stella" is seriously epic (at ten minutes). Maybe a bit grandiose? Hell, with so much else on offer, a bit of pomp is just fine. Safe albums that keep close to a single mood are all very well, but FBCFABRIC is not so interested in being safe as being rich, creative, and worth the 50+ minutes you need to listen through this album.
The album closes with a dignified ambient howl of regret "And Then John Peel Died" and it’s very moving. It rings in a great hollow space, like Tibetan monks in a bottomless cave in lost mountains.
http://www.fbcfabric.com
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