Lifesavas
is MC/ producer JUMBO the Garbageman and MC VURSATYL. `Gutterfly'
is intended as an audio movie which traces the fictional deeds
of a trio of ghetto superheroes - Bumpy Johnson (Vursatyl), Sleepy
Floyd (Jumbo) and Jimmy Slimwater (Shines). `Gutterfly' is the
ghetto-tastic sophomore release from Lifesavas, following their
acclaimed `Spirit In Stone' from 2003, and is out on the renowned
Quannum Projects Label which has a well deserved reputation for
putting out funky, lyric-heavy true hip-hop. `Gutterfly' is no
exception and follows on from their debut by plundering the 70's
blackploitation funk era and re-inventing it for the noughties.
The 60 minute album consists of 15 tracks which
manage to create a richly produced head-banging soundscape of
ultra-fresh retro-rap funk. Throughout the album, deep dark synths
and eerie melodies collide with a funky seventies vibe which consists
of swingy percussion and occasional glimmering `live' instrumentation.
Flow-wise, listeners are treated to a `ying' and `yang' effect
as Vursatyl and Jumbo's delivery style contrast in an extremely
effective manner and this manages to inject energy into tracks
as each MC grabs the mic.
`Gutterfly' is littered with ultra cool laid back
neo-soul numbers like the Gil Scott Heron inspired track 6, `Take
Me Away' in which the Vursatyl and Jumbo really lay their hearts
bare, i.e. on the second verse they spit "lost love, lost
marriage, my kids through a process, almost lost my mind, a few
material objects, my daddy to homicide, got a guilty conscience,
music's my therapy so miss me with your nonsense". Track
7, `A Serpent's Love' sounds like a Dre/Snoop classic if they
specialised in composing 70's funk instrumentation and features
a impressive chorus combined with an infectious `funk-laden' guitar
melody which meanders throughout the track.
Furthermore,
there are grimey East-coast gangster tracks, e.g. the Kayne West
influenced, `The Squeeze' and extremely up-to-date, low-riding,
cruise-worthy tracks, e.g. `Shine Language and `The Warning' which
feature deep, drunk beats and simple but effective melodies which
give tracks a wide-bodied, cinematic effect.
Lifesavas don't skimp on the arrangements and
as such tracks are not only bang up-to-date but full bodied. This
is achieved through implementing a broad range of live and processed
instrumentation which not only adds character but a true sense
of artistic integrity, something which tends to be lacking in
today's lazy synth driven, loop heavy hip-hop market. `Gutterfly'
is ultimately a highly successful endeavour due to its focus on
arrangements and melody creation combined with its diverse (melodic
and pumping) soundscapes and its `Quannum-verified' tight flows.
For
fans of: Lyrics Born, Amp Fiddler, De La Soul, Blackalicious
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