Octo_Russ

Stereo MC's [Double Bubble] 

Well here's something different from the usual Classical music, i saw this on auction on Ebay, i was drawn to the stark colourful circles on the front cover, they seem to spin, it's a lovely simple idea, circles of red, green, blue, and yellow mix, with a yellow / mustard square box for the band name and album title, i got this brand new on Ebay for cheap, still in its cellophane, turns out to be an inspired purchase.

The Stereo MC's are an English Indie / Electronic Dance / Hip Hop band formed in 1985, it's somewhat hard to pigeonhole them, maybe they're more like the Stone Roses / The Shamen towards their Indie side, and the Fun Lovin Criminals / The Beastie Boys in their Hip Hop / Rap side, whatever, they're great.

However good the artwork is, it's the music i was gobsmacked by, i have never really listened to them before, so i wasn't sure what to expect, they are afforded a tremendous recorded sound, every blip and thud, zing and buzz can be heard caressing / abusing your lug-holes, at certain moments they're an Electronic band, others times they get into Rap, but most of the time they straddle genres, i played this loud, and it has a great effect, if this album can get me this excited on one listen, then what will i be getting into 5 years down the road?, plus i feel that these discs have opened a portal to another world of music, now i've got my eye on a number of similar bands, i guess it's the Stereo MC's change of direction during songs that is so appealing, i tried to second guess where they were going with each song, most of the time i was wrong, but they sound so right, some delicious G-forces abound the musical spectrum here.

The tracks i liked the most were 1, 4 & 11 on disc one, the organ like squealing synthesizer keyboard on track 1 'Get It On' is so inspired, and the zany bumbling double beat on track 4 'City Lights' is mesmerizing, but deep down it's track 11 'Human' that blew me away, starts off with a nice gentle chugging beat, with some nice electronic noises, but quickly explodes into a strong tuneful chorus [0:27], and what sounds like an electronic harp, but more likely of course a keyboard sound, but i love this harp sound, it really makes the song, and the boom boom boom, boom boom boom drums to accompany it are perfect, some of the chorus lyrics go,

All our brassic, in my pocket

is turning into vapours

all their skint-ness is just thin air i guess, however, right at the end as everything closes down, it's this 'harp' that has the closing word, as it twangs / strums away [3:25+], slowing down into a little solo tune [3:49-3:58], a stroke of genius!, a nice way to end the album, except there's a secret track!.

Here's the Stereo MC's playing 'Human' on YouTube.