HIP HOP IN OUTER SPACE
Nick Wisdom and AstroLogical formed the hip-hop/electro project Potatohead People in Vancouver in 2008. Now based in Montreal, the pair have produced their own EPs, and also worked with acts including Polaris Prize-winning producer Kaytranada. Stuart Derd
Potatohead People is duo Nick Wisdom and AstroLogical. The Vancouver-formed hip-hop/ electro project began when both members were in high school and worked under different groupings until founding Potatohead People in 2008.
According to the Bandcamp website, they are another crew to relocate to culturally fertile and more affordable Montreal.
Following a series of digital EPs and many additional production tracks, the group was eventually pressed by Brooklyn-based label Bastard Jazz. They have been busy working with other acts throughout their career too, including tracks with Polaris Prize-winning producer Kaytranada.
But the time has come for a fulllength debut and Nick & Astro’s Guide to the Galaxy is the result: a dozen tracks featuring assorted vocalists such as Vancouver Island’s fluid rapper Moka Only, and others.
HERE ARE FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE ALBUM: 1 Slow grooves
The two of them seem really drawn to big slow beats that slur into blunted choruses. From the opening Late Show Theme to the last notes of the closing song Rituals, this plays out like a latenight album.
2 Quest For Love
The obvious single — perhaps that’s why it has a video — this is a steamy soul track that should grab a lot of ears. Sparse, but quite jazzy, instrumentation meets downtempo beats for something quite dreamy.
3 No Sleep Til MTL
The sixth song on the album is a killer jam with such ’80s electropop hallmarks as Chic-style rhythm guitar, space rock heavily echoing keyboards, and some tasty fusion jazz trumpet. All four of the instrumental tracks are super solid, and blow up when they start appearing in a player shuffle set.
4 J Dilla/Madlib leanings
The two make no bones about coming together over a mutual love of these two space-hop experimentalists. That sound is certainly all over the album, although Potatohead People are more pop-oriented for sure. Dilla’s brother Illa J hired the team to produce his self-titled debut, and he appears on three songs on the album.
5 Wicked percussion loop
Returning the Flavour has this recurring wonky cowbell or similar-sounding percussion that adds a serious Latin vamp into the track that is completely addictive. While not dance music, a lot of this material could still get a floor in motion.
MORE RECOMMENDED LISTENING THIS WEEK
Fred Hersch Trio: Live in Europe (Palmetto Records): One of the most consistently awesome jazz pianists, Hersch and his longtime trio of bassist John Hebert and drummer Eric McPherson kick off with a super-swinging take on Thelonious Monk’s We See and never look back. For the melody lover. Kassin: Relax (Luaka Bop): Bassist/producer Alexander Kassin has something like over 100 albums to his credit, as well as holding down the bass player’s role in Caetano Veloso’s band for years. On his new album, he ranges from the supersuave disco/funk of the title track to some almost 10CC-esque ballads (A Paisagem Morta, Seria o Donut). Some fine, quirky MPB listening.
Mos Generator: Shadowlands (Listenable Music): The title track is downright catchy. This represents a significant change for this Washington-based power trio. It’s still seriously heavy, but far more boogie-oriented than the previous album. Drowning In Your Loving Cup is one of the best classic ’70s style rockers I’ve heard in years. Sarah Shook & The Disarmers: Years (Bloodshot): A lot has been written about the fundamentalist upbringing that vegan, bisexual, atheist singer Shook experienced. Her debut album Sidelong signalled the arrival of a writer with a strong streak of lyrical honesty as well as a delivery that was as backwoods as could be without any hokum. She has a totally jagged and twanging phrasing as she spits out odes to bad days (New Ways to Fail), boozing (The Bottle Never Lets Me Down), and being caught in no-win situations (Damned If I Do, Damned If I Don’t). The band is just the right side of sloppy, with great guitar work all over the 10 tracks. Pairs well with bourbon shots.