Description
Comprised of St Petersburg-born Ninja Tune turntable stalwart DJ Vadim, New York rapper Blu Rum 13, and Yarah Bravo a honey-voiced female MC of mixed Chilean/Brazilian heritage One Self are as good an example youll find of hip-hops present global scope. Their debut LP, Children Of Possibility will first turn heads thanks to Vadims lush production – a melting pot of twanged sitar, lazy bass, stylus crackle and African-percussion sounds channelled into beguiling, shimmering soundscapes that match the crispness of sequenced hip-hop with the organic feel of a live band.
However, its the MCs who make this something more than just another epically-blunted son-of-Entroducing, unleashing impressive, tongue-twisting flows on the eerie “Paranoid”, and dissecting relationship politics over skeletal beats on “Be Your Own”. As with most Ninja Tune product, One Self prove more proficient at maintaining fuzzy, stoner-friendly atmos than holler-along stand-outs. But as a blurry, good-times postcard from indeterminate foreign climes, however, Children Of Possibility should be a welcome addition to any leftfield hip-hop collection. –Louis Patterson
This is high grade stuff, hip hop with an experimental, world music edge. But don’t let that put you off; it’s an entertaining and varied treat, leftfield music of the most listenable variety.
There are no tales of urban alienation and inner-city hardship here, only musicianship pushing things forward and a Lady MC to die for. Think cultured bohemian takes a year out to travel the globe.
One Self’s driving force is Russian born DJ Vadim MCs featuredincludeAmerican Blu Rum 13 and Yarah Bravo, a Swede of Chilean and Brazilian parentage. The band’s lack of regard for geographical restrictions is echoed in the music. Vadim helps himself to Shakuhachi flute from Japan and flamenco guitar from Spain. The overriding influence, however, is Indian.
Album opener “Fear the Labour” balances a lyrical message of hard work and discipline with a suggestion of eastern mysticism courtesy of haunting chants and sitars. On instrumental track “SD2” tablas flicker like candlelight.
DJ Vadim’s production is as polished as his sources are broad, and Blu Rum 13’s gravel-voiced flow and intelligent lyrics ooze confidence.
But the real attraction of One Self is Yarah Bravo. Her voice is rich and deep, tangy and sweet. By turns she is fearless femme cee, jazz poet and sultry seductress. Like all great vocalists, notes not words are her primary tools for communication. On her lips a shopping list would sound profound and moving. Her sense of rhythm is impressive over the hypnotic stop/start of “Be Your Own”.
On “Over Expose” she despairs at the flippertigibbits of commercial hip hop who degrade themselves (and by extension the genre) by stripping off on MTV. She advises that, ‘the power of the mind/is far greater than a cute behind.’
Children of Possibility is wilfully high brow. Vadim’s production is ambitious, and Yarah and Blu Rum 13 rarely use a short word where a long one will do. Pretentious, in a good way! –Ruth Jamieson
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