Busdriver:
Fear Of A Black Tangent

Release Date: 28 February 2005

Reviewed By: Oli Marlow

1. Yawning Zeitgeist Intro

2. Reheated Pop!

3. Unemployed Black Astronaut

4. Happiness (‘s unit of measurement)

5. Avantcore

6. Wormholes

7. Map Your Psyche feat. Abstract Rude & Ellay Khule

8. Cool Band Buzz

9. Note Boom

10. Low Flying Winged Books

11. Befriend The Friendless Friendster

12. Sphinx’s Coonery feat. Mikah-9 & 2mex

13. Bonus remixes

Bonus remixes

14. Avantcore (D Styles remix)

15. Happiness (‘s unit of measurement) (Prefuse 73 remix)

16. Unemployed Black Astronaut (Nobody remix)

Coach Carter - Soundtrack
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One of LA’s most revered underground artists, Busdriver, returns to the global arena with his second full length LP, ‘Fear of a Black Tangent’, three years after achieving underground recognition for his first solo release ‘Temporary Forever’ in late 2002.

Come 2004, Driver released the mini album ‘Cosmic Cleavage’ and gloriously found his feet in the avant guarde world of indie hip hop on Ninja Tune’s sister label Big Dada, producing a work that chewed up elements of jazz and old school hip hop along with the ethics of underground music spitting them out into a cohesive web worthy of critical acclaim.

‘Fear of a Black Tangent’ continues in this vein with Busdriver’s sometimes overtly randomising assault on the ears attacking the listener; from the aging electronic organ inspired freestyle of the opener ‘Yawning Zeitgeist’ right through to the lounge-worthy jazz proposal of the album’s closing track ‘Lefty’s Lament’.

Throughout the album, the quirky production, variation in styles and speeds of emceeing, and the mixture of genres provides a multi-layered tapestry that should to be listened to on a loop to really digest. By the third listen, the tracks seem to take on a new meaning, a kind of higher state groove that causes somewhat involuntary neck spasms and an increased rate of concentration as you try to decipher the lyrical offensive.

The musical backdrop to each track changes and somehow blends seamlessly with its predecessor, creating a tangible range of abstract continuity. Production credits enlist some of California’s brightest underground luminaries, such as Daedelus, Omid, Dangermouse, Paris Zax and Thavius Beck; each one weaving their particular brand of transcendent magic creating the perfect platform for Busdriver to present his perplexing wordplay.

After conquering the underground with the Project Blowed collective Busdriver has maintained his left field stance on hip hop, bestowing a stupendously diverse art form on the record buying public. His rhymes are speedy to say the least and trying to take in every word is an incomprehensible challenge; however the humour and momentum of the music carries your ears through revealing a genetically modified strain of abstract hip hop that can only come from the dulcet lucidity of Busdriver’s vocal chords.

The last track ‘Unemployed Black Astronaut’ remixed by Nobody hinges around a melodic slashing guitar riff that accompanies the tried and tested boom bap drum method producing a superbly appealing result but it divulges to be Busdriver’s exceptional word placement that shines though as his incredibly coherent lyrics perfectly fit the pace and atmosphere of the music showcasing just how original underground hip hop can still be.

It proves to be Busdriver’s babbling that is the highlight of the album; check out ‘Map Your Psyche’ featuring the emcees from Project Blowed, Abstract Rude and Ellay Khule, for some of the best lyricists trading rhymes like they’re matchsticks. Or listen to ‘Note Boom’ to hear Driver hitting back at the state of hip hop; I guarantee either will make you see the benefits of gritty drums and smooth production provided by some of America’s most innovative.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Favourite three tracks:
3) Unemployed Black Astronaut
7) Map Your Psyche
9) Note Boom

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