She a Female Trip Hop Experience
Something about ambient trip-hop music lends itself to a female lead vocal. Perhaps it's how an airy feminine melody contrasts so well with the tickle of the deep bass line. Or maybe bands likeMassive AttackandPortisheadhave set up a template that other artists lack the imagination to significantly alter. Regardless, the combination has spurred a subgenre of sorts, and, as the music on this compilation record makes clear, there are gems to be found among the knock-offs and half-baked tunes. This is after-dark music, and none of these bands makes dreamier use of tempo and repetition thanLaika, who kick off the disc with "Uneasy," off 2000'sGood Looking Bluesrelease. Another band doing this better than most isLamb, and the track used here, "Lusty" (off their amazingself-titled debut), is a study in bold creativity and assertive rhythms. The disc sags towards the middle, getting mired in pseudo-mystical lyrics and by-the-numbers execution, but recovers nicely with the blissful epic "Parallel Life" from theStarseeds. With compelling work from import-only bands like Crustation, Kiwiwest, andMandalayincluded as well, the record is an ideal primer in female trip-hop ("chick-hop" perhaps?) music.--Matthew Cooke