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Review: Jack Foley
THE Ninja Tune label consistently manages to unearth some of
the funkiest new talent around, plucking them from smaller, lesser-known
labels and placing them straight into the spotlight marked 'TAKE
NOTICE'.
Hence, we now have Ninja debutants, Ammoncontact, to deal with,
a couple of Los Angelinos who pride themselves on being able to
make minimal, atmospheric, predominantly instrumental, and predominantly
hip-hop based music.
The name of the album kind of gives away what to expect - it's
called One In An Infinity of Ways, and it represents
a quirky mix of the mundane and the fabulous, which certainly
mark Ammoncontact out to look out for in the future.
Close friends since school, Carlos Nino and Fabian Ammon first
came onto the Ninja radar for the way in which they have consistently
put out some of the funkiest sample-based/ live instrumentation
beat hybrids of the past couple of years, on labels such as Eastern
Developments, Soul Jazz and Plug Research.
They have also appeared on compilations alongside the likes of
DJ Shadow, Cut Chemist and
King Britt - although their blend of beats couldn't be more different
from those artists.
One In An Infinity of Ways is a strange album and one
that requires several listens to truly get (or not, as the case
might well be).
Occasionally very hip and funky (as in the pulsating beats of
Healing Vibration), it can also sound too experimental,
drifting into somewhat pretentious, arty territory that doesn't
to it too many favours.
On a first listen, it might be tempting to dismiss the whole
album as falling into the latter category, but give it time and
tracks do tend to grow.
Keepintime is a classic case in point, which gets better
the longer it goes on, and which might have you pressing the skip
button if you're not prepared to give it a go.
But elsewhere, the likes of Wu Woomp Woomp, fail to
get going and sound something a little worse than elevator music.
They even threaten to get on your nerves somewhat.
Less of these, and more of the likes of title track, One
In An Infinity of Ways, which features a delicious rap, and
we may have found ourselves hailing an instant classic.
But while there's no doubting Ninja have found another talent,
there is the feeling that in trying to stretch the boundaries
of hip-hop, Ammoncontact may make themselves a little too novelty
for their own good.
It's worth checking out, though, for anyone who professes to
like their music a little different.
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Track listing:
1. Dreamy
2. Healing Vibrations
3. Keepintime
4. Through The Moon
5. Fun Is For Funky
6. Wu Woomp Woomp
7. Wu Wu Woomp
8. Good Life To Groove
9. Like Waves Of The Sea
10. Love Letters
11. Ballad Of The Untitled
12. One In An Infinity Of Ways
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