The second release on Alex Smoke’s new label is a shock to the point of being frightening. Known for his innovative, forward-thrusting techno excursions he follows the ‘Vaporub’ debut by teaming up with Shadowhuntaz MC Non to make the freshest, fiercest hiphop sound encountered for years. For too long what started as a vibrant, pioneering voice from the streets has been glossed and pillaged, robbed of its life to coin the bucks. Hiphop started as the New York ghetto’s own punk rock then gradually got turned into panto, even family entertainment. Alex and Non have started Fool to express their political beliefs, the MC delivering some harsh lyrics about the drudgery and hardships of daily life, concocted and delivered with similar spirit and skill to latter-period Last Poets, although obviously in a totally different context. Alex’s backdrop is a dark, juddering beast, a sonic illustration of a desolate cityscape peopled by zombies. It’s stunning but catchy too. Rustie and Chris De Luca V Phon. O stretch and pulse up on their remixes but there’s more than a sting in the tail with new singings Name+Relucto, who deliver a mindblowing chainsaw techno massacre with all manner of bonkers vocal acrobatics and escalating carnage. There’s a whole album of this to come called Mad Man’s Drum. If anything like this single it’ll be the new milestone hiphop so sorely needs.
5 Out Of 5
Reviewed By: Kris Needs
