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Turntablism is a fancy name for what old-school hip hop called DJing,
and on record it's usually too fancy. In 2000, Montreal-based DJ Kid
Koala's funny little Carpal Tunnel Syndrome proved an
exception, and now, after contributing to the surprise hit
Gorillaz project, Koala proves he can groove on the eponymous
Bullfrog (Ropeadope). Bullfrog is an old-fashioned
four-piece funk band like Booker T. & the M.G.'s, slightly
modernized and with a percussionist where Booker's organ used to
be. They do without the organ because Koala keeps adding samples:
horns, background vocals, cheerleading, commentary, whatever. It helps
that the guitarist and (female) percussionist sing some. A droll,
deep-voiced rapper helps even more. The best kind of trad--trad with a
twist.
Mush Filmstrip (Frame 1) (Shadow) segues rappers, ambient techno artists, and a rock band or two into the best kind of mood music--mood music with brains. Simultaneously funky and haunting, it's like the soundtrack to one of those strange dreams where you wake up wishing you could remember more details just to figure it out. Key contributor: New York alt-rapper Aesop Rock, whose own Labor Days (Def Jux) is much more literal and equally striking.
Playboy, Nov. 2001
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