RJd2
Since We Last Spoke

THE REVIEW

Nouvelle cuisine

Who is RJd2? A genius that Spin magazine even introduced as the Glenn Gould of sampling… a challenging statement, but one I believe he deserves. A freelance producer and remixer, RJ has already left his precious touch on productions by Mos Def, Massive Attack, El-P, Elbow, Cannibal Ox… the list is long and the story is much more intricate. I’ll end the brief bio by mentioning that Since we last spoke is his second solo album (here you can find his complete discography). I think the mentioned names are enough to understand where RJ operates.

It’s a Definitive Jux record, but it could find its place also in Ninja Tune, Lex, or Novamute catalogs. An extremely complex and sophisticated record, yet it manages to capture the attention of even untrained ears. We find the pure attitude of hip hop looping, but there’s no rap; some tracks are sung by RJ himself, others by guests, and others naturally by samples. We find simple intimate vocal melodies, funky groove beats, both nocturnal and sunny atmospheres, saxophones, flutes, pianos, drums, guitars, analog synths, electro experiments, and stylistic changes within the same track that seem irreconcilable. There’s mastery in crafting and fitting clean, classy, unsurpassed loops and above all, the sound of sampled vinyl in almost the entire album. As a cherry on top, in the ghost track, there’s even room for a bold orchestrated sampling of lyrical singing. Hip hop meets funk, classic, electro, rock, jazz, latin, prog, avant-garde, soul… in a definitive mix!

I will talk about just one track, the one that stuck in my head and often forces me to put Since we last spoke in the record player, and it’s Ring Finger. Hunt it down, listen to it, it’s simply brilliant, transitioning from groovefunk beat to a poetic classical guitar solo to transform into trip hop with a warm and evocative female voice, then returning to funk in an explosion of saxophones and post-James Brown screams. The entire album is great, and I recommend it to those eager for an experience beyond musical genres. Listen to the samples here… What do you think?

It’s a rare example of hip hop- patchwork-mix-mush that manages to create an unprecedented taste from many ingredients, extravagant and not, good and not just "strange" or "original", because what I heard is indeed a mature listening album, not a mere exercise in style.

RJ has talent comparable to a genius like Four Tet. Recommended.