For
Zen, Japanese producer/mixer
DJ Krush works his way into a vision of sublime, downbeat
hip-hop that's a snug fit with the title. The opening
"Song 1" is an irresistible slice of
trance-state
trip-hop, with the cascading notes of a vibraphone and flute perfectly complementing the atmospheric grooves.
Krush also continues the collaborational bent of previous LPs, with
hip-hop heads
Black Thought and
?uestlove from
the Roots (appearing on separate tracks),
Company Flow, and
DJ Disk alongside left-field choices
Zap Mama,
N'Dea Davenport, and trumpeter
Kazufumi Kodama. On these tracks, the beats and effects are more pointed than on the opener and, as in the past,
DJ Krush proves he's a stellar jack-of-all-trades trackmaster. The tuneless bassline and production gloom surrounding
"Vision of Art" are the perfect bedrock for hardcore paranoiacs
Company Flow, while the frenetic, quasi-
jungle programming on
"Sonic Traveler" only highlights the incredible flair of guest
Tunde Ayanyemi (on kudi and bata drums). And while any other
hip-hop producer would burn out on at least a few collaborations,
Krush just keeps turning out excellent song beds: for
DJ Disk on
"Duck Chase," for
Zap Mama on
"Danger of Love," and for
Kazufumi Kodama on
"Day's End." All these great appearances make any disappointment caused by the lack of solo jaunts after
"Song 1" practically nil. ~ John Bush
