Published on Dec 19, 1997
Well…America need no longer look for their version of Massive
Attack. Two DJs in Washington D.C. have made an album that ranks up
some of the most innovative and tripped-out rhythms of the 1990s
with their release,
Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi.
Though they may not be as well known as Prodigy or even Tricky,
Thievery Corporation have established a loyal following in the D.C.
area. We can only help it spreads throughout the states. Armed with
two turntables and a microphone, DJs Eric Hilton and Rob Garza
incorporate elements of trip-hop, Rastafarian beats and more
unconventional performing forces, such as flutes.
Some of the titles pretty much give you an idea of what you’re
in for. “2001 Spliff Odyssey” and “Universal Highness” suggest more
herbal influence than Cyprus Hill’s garden. It would be easy to
pass off
Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi as a “mood CD,” vocals are
fairly sparse and when vocals are evident, they’re usually spoken
in fragments.
Like Miles Davis’s classic
Bitches Brew, Thievery Corporation know the importance of
the mood. The earthy tones of “The Foundation” and the jazzy
introduction to “A Warning” are able to sound human while keeping a
strong techno feel to them. “2001 Spliff Odyssey” boasts a real
funky beat while switching from drum machines to jazzy
interludes.
The most amazing part of
Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi is that it’s a debut from the
two DJ’s. Any album that can absorb elements of acid jazz, hip-hop,
techno and Jamacian beats and put them into such a cohesive set of
tunes is an accomplishment onto itself. Like
Maxinquae, Tricky’s amazing release,
Sounds From The Thievery Hi-Fi is full of emotion that can’t
really be labeled. Easily the best debut album of the year, it
makes a bold statement from a band that will be making waves well
into the 21st century.