Urban Dance Squad
Mental Floss for the Globe

THE REVIEW

To give substance to my narrative today and further highlight the spectacular debut of the Dutch, I just need to quote the following: the good Les Claypool wanted them to accompany the Primus European tour in the summer of 1993, supporting the album Pork Soda. Always spoke well of cousin Les, a man (super) gifted with rare "intelligentsia" and wit. It was the first of September twenty-five years ago when I saw the Urban Dance Squad in Bologna; able with their total crossover to delight the crowd, warm up the environment, and then leave the field open to Primus. But let’s put aside this epic concert, not without regret, and go back a few years, exactly to 1989.

I need to get something off my chest that I’ve been carrying with me for years: the original Utrecht combo had nothing less than the much more renowned and known Living Colour, Fishbone, Red Hot Chili Peppers. They did not receive the same treatment and did not achieve the same success; they left the field ending their career after just a decade and five records, all deserving of attention, published. A mystery to me the lack of attention towards them.

This work Mental Floss For The Globe still incredibly fresh nearly three decades since its inception; a dozen incandescent, sparkling tracks capable of incorporating Hip-Hop, Soul, Metal, Punk with impressive ease. Masters in total football during the glorious Netherlands of various Cruyff, Rep, Rensenbrink; masters the five guys at merging together such diametrically opposed genres without setting limits. And the final result is astonishing and leaves you speechless.

The rap singing of Rudeboy (I still vividly remember his physique, his bare and sculpted torso worthy of the best Henry Rollins) is supported by the fluid and ingenious guitar of the not otherwise identified Tres Manos; bass and drums create an original and imaginative rhythmic carpet. But the jewel in the crown is the constant presence of a DJ, such as DNA, who enriches the already substantial sound with various samples, wind sounds, vinyl scratches to the max!!

A revolutionary record; a melting pot of a thousand genres, a thousand sounds as can be easily noticed just by mentioning the single "Deeper Shade Of Soul": ask Mr. Beck Hansen where he took inspiration for his first musical steps.

Great Urban Dance Squad...BIG APPLE...

Diabolos Rising 666.