S. MAHARBA "S. Maharba" C21 (Sass Bologna/Arms & Legs)

Seher Maharba, out of the UK, has his bad-ass-hleaurettes in mix-awe-logy, with a strong Minor in Texteurology and Funky-So&So-ciology! This tape is a re-issue of a highly sought after release by Sass Bologna and, later, Arms & Legs, with a few vinyl pressings, between, that now fetch $50-$100 easily.

I hesitate to measure the worth of a musician/producer through monetary means, but, honestly, I’m not that dialed into experimental Hip-Hop beats, and, I suppose Discogs knows more than I do, as per supply/demand.

Herein, a noteworthy seamless blend of loops, timbral snakery, heaviness, playful positions & about one thousand years worth of neck-bobbing good times run rampant. There’s also a brilliant tease of a Beatles song that comes right out of nowhere to smack you in the face. Like, Woah!

https://smaharba.bandcamp.com/album/s-maharba

and/or

http://armsandlegs.de/

-- Jacob An Kittenplan

LOKE WILSON "Self-titled" (Sass Bologna)

This is the real deal! Turkish dude’s been making electronic music since the ‘70s and it sounds like he’s seen no reason to change with the times. Luckily for him, with today’s retro-synth craze, his legions of vintage synthesizers, keyboards and electronic drum kits are now hip again and maybe he can retire comfortably, doing what he’s always done, which is making bad-ass synthstrumental, funky, over-the-top dance jams in honor of those who know a good time when they hear it.

Sure, part of it is that I’m three strong cups of cold-pressed coffee into my first week of summer vacation, but this truly prance-tastic…liek…I honestly got up and shook my lazy, pajama’d ass for a bit. After I finish this review, I’m going to honest-to-god-here dust the cobwebs offa my ten pound barbells, wrap a sweatband around my head and do some cardio-flirting weightlifting. So good!

Thank you, Sass Bologna, for putting this out, and thank you Loke Wilson for sticking to your funs. <3
http://lokewilson.com/
and/or
http://sassbologna.org/

-- Jacob An Kittenplan

BRILLO "Seeds" C23 (Sass Bologna)

Well, sheeyit. Looks like this ol’ SOB got BOTH SB tapes in hir reviews package! Woot Woot!

Now, come clean, here, I gotta admit, straight out; hey, I ain’t no Hop-Hip carnyvowre…but…

Talib Kweli & DJ Hi-Tek were the backbone for Cincinnati’s MOOD, which have, for a solid two decades now been my all time favorite team, and Acid Reign’s DIVERSITY will forever surpass all my expectations, when it comes to all-encompassing-incorporation…

So I have my own weird standards, mmmkay?

But this
Instrumental
Release

Is damned fine! Variable genres mastered by (forgive the further name droppings of) Atmosphere and Jurassic 5 are laid out flat for your own rap practice and/or slide-guitar accompaniment (if you’re as bad at even pretending to have the rapid fire diction that it takes to actually pronounce the themes merited by these solid jams) herein.

Remember: there are no boring art pieces, just boring recipients. Sounds good? Have (y)ourselves a listen?

https://sassbologna.bandcamp.com/album/seeds
and/or
http://sassbologna.org/

-- Jacob An Kittenplan

CENTAUR NOIR VS. BABY ALCHEMY "Baby Noir" C44 (Sass Bologna/Deep Cuts)

Here’s a collaborative effort between two Midwestern electro-duos, one more hip than pop, the other, vice-versa. Individually, they’re much busier/engaging to my (admittedly texture-hungry) ears, whereas this joint effort sounds much more like a demo tape, with tracks provided by one to another, but not fully explored. I love me some minimalism, but the compositions sound anemically skeletal. Do do yourself a favor and check out their non-collaborative releases, especially CN’s “Lean On Me” for a most pleasant shakedown.

centaurnoir.bandcamp.com/

soundcloud.com/baby-alchemy

deepcutsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/baby-noir

and/or

sassbologna.org/

­­

-- Jacob An Kittenplan