Luke Geraty - It's Cold Out Here

Thursday 1st July 2004
Luke Geraty - It's Cold Out Here
Luke Geraty - It's Cold Out Here

STYLE: Hip-Hop
RATING 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 9241-8959
LABEL: Syntax 026297762124
FORMAT: CD Album
RRP: £14.99

Reviewed by T A Sutherland

Hook-rich and funk-laden are a couple of phrases to describe a deep and creative album. Luke writes most of the lyrics and has a laid back yet unusually sharp take on life and spirituality. For me the album rises head and shoulders above the norm due in main to the scratches and production, much of which is laid on by Jayvee and Know 1 of Soft Focus. These guys deliver the richest, smoothest, multi-layered hooks and loops that I have heard in a long time. Loads of progression and plenty of unexpected stuff crop up in track after track. This is one of those albums that has the unusual ability of throwing up more and more surprises and meanings spin on spin. "Burgundy Smile" (now there's a title) sets the pace with its chill out transience that hints that this is no ordinary hip-hop. Soon, "Last Episode Of Funk" drops an (early) De La Soul-style groove with a retro feel, a candidate for major air play if ever I heard one. "Crayons" featuring Moi is a sombre biographical tale of a lost girl that meanders (poetically) through the struggles of rejection and hope of acceptance. Shortly followed by the cautionary tale of the ultimate temptress in "Satan's Little Angel", a tight funk guitar-driven beat makes this an infectious slice that despite its foreboding subject matter is often tongue-in-cheek. "'Labor Of Love" is a beautifully crafted and progressive Job-like cry of pain and loss that is surprisingly smooth and harmonic with a very frank chorus; soul searching stuff. This album is a breath of fresh air, a must have.

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Sample Track Listing:
1. Burguny Smile [Listen]
2. It's Cold Out Here F. Know1 [Listen]
3. Last Episode Of Funk [Listen]
4. Push Your Lighter Up [Listen]
5. Burn Down The Bridge [Listen]
6. Brandon's Folly F. Pigeon John [Listen]
7. I Wanna Be A Rock Star F. Tori Geraty [Listen]
8. Crayons F. Moi [Listen]
9. Sunset Of Smiles [Listen]
10. Lack Of Erasers F. Know1 [Listen]
11. Satan's Little Angel F. Aqwamann [Listen]
12. Habitually Lacking [Listen]
13. Gas Station Love [Listen]
14. A Day In The Life Of... [Listen]
15. Pandemonium F. Pigeon John & Redcloud [Listen]
16. Dislocated Reality [Listen]
17. Labor Of Love F. Elias [Listen]
18. Footprints [Listen]
19. Whispers [Listen]
20. Ushers In The Spring F. Know1 [Listen]

This track data is supplied by the Cross Rhythms CD/DVD review library. Please note that CD tracks may vary according to release region or product version.

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