GregBowes
CD OFTHEWEEK
‘When I step on to that floor I’m gonna be all business,” proclaims the voice on the intro to Aim’s Cold Water Music (Grand Central), and from the first notes you can sense that something beyond the usual is surely happening here.
This coolly packaged debut on breakbeat’s new major force, the Grand Central label, is the work of the hotly tipped Andy Turner, who, in a truly business-like and efficient manner, demonstates how devastating well-executed downtempo music can be. Already a firm favourite with head-nodders and hip-hop heads alike, Cold Water Music is an open- minded mixture of rap – with MCs Q’n’C, YZ and AG coming across like A Tribe Called Quest rhyming over some Kruder & Dorfmeister out-takes – a few female vocal-led tunes and some jamming instrumental joints.
Some of the immaculately arranged cuts here incorporate harps, horns, gunshots, ominous choral voices, soundbytes from slasher cinema and (well-deserved) audience applause, which are all glued together by the phattest beats available. While the formula may be familiar, Turner executes a bit of alchemical trickery, infusing the final product with a grandeur and scenic depth that somehow seems much more than the sum of its parts.
Trip-hop hasn’t sounded this fresh and essential since the arrival of Massive Attack, Portishead and Ninja Tune – in fact, it’s rarely sounded this composed and focused. Cold Water Music is unique, emotionally charged and also extremely accessible, and comes highly recommended.