Reveling in the merits of predecessor Big Luxury, the Potatohead People duo, Nick Wisdom and Astrological, return with another Jazz Hop indulgence. Again, the quality of compositions on display set it apart from expectant groovy indulgences of the genre. Sung choruses, guest rap verses and instrument solos break up the looped foundations. The beats are class, slick jazzy moods frequently leaning into G-Funk and dreamy detours as spurts of soft instrumentation and reverb ups the indulgence.
Last outing, guest verses and lyrics illuminated the runtime. This time, its instrumental cuts grab attention as the songs drift with non linear feeling. The core rhythms stand firm but around them breezy Sax solos, dreamy acoustic guitar licks and Jazz Fusion keyboard tones wrap the groove in organic expression. Especially captivating is the closer Rituals. Its eclectic pull of glitched vocals, gritty saw bass and House pianos acts as a closing novelty you could imagine fitting snugly on a 90s Trip Hop record.
Ultimately, its not too dissimilar a project with a similar flow. The pair lean into a more diverse source of inspirations which they wield to fit their mold. The result tips the scales as its interesting assembly of sounds gets to flourish in the spotlight. The beats built for rhymes come rigid and stiff in contrast. The raps contributed by guests Illa J and the like, have less of an impact than before. Either way, its another quality Jazz Hop craft to pluck out some personal favorites from, that I'm sure will last with time.
Rating: 7/10