Following his style of not following conventions, k-os starts his new album with the retro introduction, "Electrik Heat The Seekwill," whose beat is reminiscent of his best known hit to date, "B-Boy Stance" off of 2004's "Joyful Rebellion."
The album then takes a completely unexpected turn with the first of two slow ballads, "The Rain." Such an anticlimactic twist might make listeners wonder if that's all there is but that's where the brilliance comes in.
The first of six extraordinarily fun tracks, "Flypaper," begins with reggae-style vocals over the upbeat music of a live-sounding band. The lyrics are an indictment of the apathy that has taken a hold of society. "We don't talk to each other now/ What an alien nation," and quicker hip-hop rhymes: "My antimatter is shattering any ladder that's crawling with snakes/ Make no mistake we not fate, wake up." Though the blending of these two styles might seem awkward if attempted by a less qualified artist, it is a style that k-os has made into his own.
"Equalizer" shows how far back k-os' influences go by sampling Elvis' "Jailhouse Rock" and contrasting it with a mellow, optimistic chorus. Next is "Sunday Morning," the first single which features a brilliant dance beat from start to finish. Lyrically, he underscores the importance of resting, regrouping and togetherness an uncommon and understated message to have on the dance floor.
"Mirror in the Sky" has less of a live band sound, but it is equally shoe-tapping and keeps the beat with hand claps, ensuring that no listener can sit still, and "Born to Run" keeps it going with a fist-pumping approach. The sixth song on this streak of brilliance is "Valhalla," a joyful collaboration with Kevin Drew and Sam Roberts of Broken Social Scene.
Overall, the album stays true to k-os' inspiring lyrics but features the most universally pleasing blend of soulful hip-hop in the last 10 years; it will hopefully serve as a gateway to his older material.
-by Mike Adams
