ZapTown

Flow Dan
Original Dan
Eskibeat Recordings
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Links:

Original Dan on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/rolldeep1
Eskibeat Recordings on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/eskibeatrecordings

Flow Dan, born Mark Viera, returns with a solo project, Original Dan. Hailing from London, England, the sounds spilling out of the release are anything but the expected London sound. Jungle, DubStep, and Grime beats and rasta-hip hop lyrics fill out the majority of the LP. The album is full, frenetic, and varied, but all sticks together well. Electronic  samples, blip noises, sound effects, auto tuned vocals and triple-tracked voices are the fleshy appendages on this DubStep skeleton, and the occasional super-deep bass tracks help to balance the creature out.

For a good representation of the album, check out “Show Theme, “Dumpers,” Stage Show,” and “Run”. These fun, strong tracks are the best on the release.

Much of the album is the expected topic of hip hop lyrics- explaining how tough he is, how “street” he is, and about how talented he is. Unfortunately for hip hop fans (of most every sub-genre of hip hop), this is par for the course- instead of demonstrating the talents an artist has, they tell the audience how talented they are. It too often seems like more advertising than substance.

Being hypersensitive to racial politics, one track, titled “Kack Back” caught my ear in a negative way. Repeating a  chorus of “…when black men are talking, you better keep on walking,”  I was unimpressed to say the least.  I could see how I could be wrong about his intended message, but this strays too close to negative politics. I really could have done without the track.

RIYL: Miami-Bass music, DubStep