A collage of brilliance. Innovative compositions, skillful improv, liquid mceeing, just beautiful. The real feature here is the rhythm section, though:
Nat McIntosh has invented a new style of tuba-playing which is highlighted in his "Handbills for no man," a veritable smorgasbord of (I'm guessing) five or six overdubbed tubas. Throughout the album Nat is constantly busting intervals, and sometimes he just strait-up yells into the mouthpiece, genius.
Bountiful props must also be given to the percussion section. Ranging from traditional second-line, to funk, to hip-hop, the snare is dripping with volume and soul at every turn while the base is so ridiculously in-the-pocket I wanna cry during every breakdown. This album contains some of best beats I've heard in awhile, amazing considering that its a two-piece rhythm section. The division of labor creates a hurdle for the drummers who have to be in sync with each other as well as the rest of the band but they've overcome this handicap allowing for more complicated rhythms and a diversity of sound which culminates in "Avalanche," a hip-hop triumph. There are definitely two or three weaker songs on the album but, as a whole, the CD overflows with potential samples, breaks, a treasure trove for any DJ searching the horizon. Don't know if its on vinyl (not likely), but I guess DJ's don't even need to spin vinyl anymore. DJ or not, this CD is inspiring.