Customer Reviews

Very Mercenary

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Herbaliser is the malicious lovechild of a stoned copulation session between DJ Shadow, Miles Davis and Portishead. With "Very Mercenary," the band (under the direction of DJ Ollie Teeba and producer Jake Wherry) goes one better than their stellar disc "Blow Your Headphones." This time, the English boys have learned the beauty of subtlety. The end result: some mad blunted jazz that would confuse the average Puff Daddy fan to pieces while endlessly delighting those who thought hip hop couldn't get any better than Shadow's "Endtroducing" or The Fugees' "The Score." Choice cuts: All the tracks featuring rapper What What?, "Who's The Realest," "Mind in the Frame," "Road of Many Signs" (w/ The Dream Warriors), "Wall Crawling Breaks" and "The Sensual Woman." "Very Mercenary" gives hip hop what it needs--a healthy dose of cinematic noir. It gives two different kinds of energy--the kind to dance to, and the kind that stimulates thought. Never mind best of the year--try one of the all-time classic hip-hop discs ever made. It's also very revolutionary. Don't be surprised if the major playas start putting out product like this in the next five years...

Possibly wanting to avoid being `Confined' to the `Trip-Hop' tag, The Herbaliser moves more into a rough conceptual-themed Spy Thriller, with a abundance of 60's spy movie sample snippets littered throughout the album. With what could have been a one trick pony idea, works to overwhelmingly superb effect, "Mission Improbable" has female scattershot MC `What What', delivering complicated wordplay over a tasty bed of (60's inspired) uptempo hypnotic Hip-Hop beats. But really impresses is the way that the way that `The Herbaliser' can construct a sound or beat, without resorting to tired clichés, and interesting diverse. "Shattered Soul" really does show how the limitations of the Trip-Hop genre haven't even begun to become confining, it's a purely instrumental track (of which there are several on the album) and shows how beat creation can now truly be considered with (almost) the same creditability as a instrumentalist, and cements `The Herbaliser" as amongst `Ninja Tunes' finest.

Herbaliser proves themselves to be one of the most creative forces on Ninja tune. The sound on this album comes across as a cross between the cut-and-paste hip-hop of coldcut and the jazz flavor of Amon-tobin. Beautiful backgrounds are made through both noir samples and live percussions, as well as fantastic live bass playing. In fact, the entire album has a live feel that is altogether absent on most hip-hop albums. All of the vocal tracks succeed, save for the dismal performance of the Dream Warriors on the 'Road of many signs'. Strange Ninja tune released it as a single. And 'the missing suitcase' is the best spy theme since the propellerheads 'majesty's secret service'. While not perfect, Very Mercenary is a must have for fans of blunted jazzy hip-hop. If you're looking for a different side of hip-hop, buy this.

Standout artisans in a growing hallucinogenre, Herbalizer's latest merits meticulous attention. An invigorating volume of dope jams, articulated by noir suspension, freak-powered abstrakt beatz and sharply delineated colored noise, `Very Mercenary' exemplifies a refined brand of audiotropism, one that displays the highest regards for the ears intelligence and for the art of beatnology itself. The tight transparency that Wherry and Teeba aim to create is established immediately; much of the records cut-and-paste hip-hop system can be absorbed in a single glance. In a less obvious way, the theme of naked nanofunk is woven deeply in a heady jazzual stance and amplified by deft scratches, samples and live percussion and bass. These main ingredients are imprinted with madcap raps by Bahamedia, What What of the Natural Elements crew, and Roots' Manuva that unfurl liquified linguistics onto the instru-mural substructure. Crucial cutz "The Realest", "Wall Crawling Giant Insect Breaks", "Shattered Soul", "Goldrush", and the spy-themed "The Missing Suitcase" emphasize this legion's rootedness in a late-night blunted scene. Yet even at it's most mellow, the vibe remains viscerally challenging. Out of the simmering dub priorities, integrity remains high. Rhythmical manipulation never diverts anarcho-ontology. All told, expect to be reclined, yet inclined to imagine something extraordinarily intense.

Ah, yes - Ninja Tune. This London-based label is home to such artists as Coldcut, Amon Tobin, and The Herbaliser. Their latest disc, "Very Mercenary," continues in the Ninja tradition of releasing cutting-edge albums. Highlights include "Road of Many Signs" (featuring the Dream Warriors), which boasts a beat which I'd put right up there with the one from "Nas Is Like." Bahamadia's smooth vocal delivery (and that laid-back beat) make "When I Shine" a winner, as well. Of the instrumentals, "Shattered Soul" may remind you of "Midnight In A Perfect World" by DJ Shadow - in a good way. And "Goldrush"'s trumpet-backed beats will take you for a ride. Also, "Wall Crawling Giant Insect Breaks" is pure fun; it's a hip-hop history lesson complete with scratches and cool samples (be sure to look for the one from Spider-Man). Would you like something different from 99% of today's hip-hop? Get this CD.

most hip hop seems rather recycled and bland. this is not hip hop either, yet elements are very present. I purchased this album after seeing them live (something everybody should do, my what a great show...! )

all of the guest vocalists (mc's)> GREAT! all of the wacky sampling > GREAT! all of Ollie's scratchinG > GREAT!~

shattered soul= classic epic, beauty! my personal favourite track.

Fans are raving about the rappers on this album but I have to say - The Herbaliser team has got its groove on!
It's all about the horns. Andy Ross and his boys positively blow me away. Subtlety goes along way, and WHEN are these guys touring the U.S.A. again?

this album is a neat crossingpoint of hip hop/big beat and late night stoner tunes. probably not instantly accesible other than "the realest" to some listeners it does grow and become essential mood music, similar to say {freddy fresh last true family man}. hip hop is having a revival at the mo and this will hope fully produce more of this style {dj shadow ,freestylers} etc.......

Not much to say, except this is a fantastic album that deserves more attention. ( Oh hang on - perhaps to be respected as a reviewer I needz 2 use digitz and zedz :-)

great comeback for the herbaliser. Great raps and instrumentals.Funky.Funky. Lots of guests including bahamedia and what what...only weak spot is from Dream Warriors...but even this lame effort can't mar the wickedness that is Very Mercenary.