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The Free Association
David Holmes Presents...
OFFICIAL SITE | 13AMP
10 Tracks
2002
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Writing really intelligent things about great music can be tough at times. Especially when the music overlaps and blends genres in such short time. So these are my quick thoughts on the sound of the album:
Blaring horns with thumpy beats and sharp steel drums pound with dense rhythms, while a quick tongue calls out 'I DONT RHYME NO MO, CUZ I SHAPESHIFT...' Repetitive and catchy, easily dragging you into the rest of the album.
Extremely thick and smokey, wahwah guitar and highhats crash in time as sultry female vocals scratch 'I WISH I HAD A WOODEN HEART THAT I COULD SET ON FIRE' Lowkey basslines and distant filtered acid wiggles add atmosphere to this timeless sound.
Quality hiphop beats and lyrics, produced so cleanly it outclasses most all other hiphop. Backup singers 'OOOOO' and 'AAAAHHHH' to carry the sound of a sax, distant whispers give the male lyrics an element of mysterious pride.
A lounge sound created by a set of horns, and a bass guitar carry the tone towards the blues as the soft voice returns and squeeks out her hard times 'JUST PUSHIN A BROOOOOOOOM'
An instrumental track that's soooo signature of the David Holmes sound. synthetic horns on top of drum machine beats, come in and out of a headrush mindstate to settle into that groovy soundtrack rhythm.
the final track reminds me of billy holiday... A hollow drum keeps the slow beat, an upright bass pulls along that thick female voice, as she sings to the depth of her soul. an organ grinds away a fumbled melody in between verses, while a turntable scratch keeps the drum beat from getting stale.
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When it comes down to it... this album is a unique mix of tastes, but somewhat similar in sound. This is not going to be an album for everyone, but most will find a couple of tracks enjoyable.
the hip-hop has a unique sound to it, and the lyrics are nonabrasive. The jazzy lounge tracks are tucked between the urbal beats, and just drip with the sweat of production value. The hiphop tracks have elements of jazzy atmospherics, while the downtempo lounge will scratch or pull a reverse loop out of the smoke. This is a very tight disc; David Holmes presenting The Free Association does not disappoint.
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