Say What? - Fresh Fish

Thursday 1st November 1990
Say What? - Fresh Fish
Say What? - Fresh Fish

STYLE: Hip-Hop
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 6270-6124
LABEL: StarSong SSD8150
FORMAT: CD Album
RRP: £4.99

Reviewed by Phil Thomson

Curtains up on vinyl theatre. Juvenile it may be, but this is pure tongue-in-cheek, iron fist parody in velvet glove entertainment. Wrapping rich folds of sound and rhythm; layers of radio rip-off, sample and scratch - magnificently, brilliantly, intelligently thrown away with clinical precision. I've never heard anything like it. Joseph's coat of many colours gets a new slant; Sandi Patti is irreverently sent up in the amazing "I Can Sing Higher", and lyrical pyrotechnics abound, no more so than in an almost abstract "We're Stupid" - which they certainly are not. Say what? exude acceptable arrogance; each track is pure cameo conversation with a narrative evocation of intimate, nitpicking self-righteousness. Listen closely and you'll find yourself in there somewhere. I can't remember the last time a Christian release caught me out, but in places, it had me laughing with surprise. No matter that it's an emotional zero - rap doesn't work like that: it's eloquent, textural, diverse, and it never lets up. This is vital stuff. Fresh fish? Suspend your disbelief, lay your cap on back to front, turn yourself into a bendi-toy and get sucked in.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

Interested in reviewing music? Find out more here.

Be the first to comment on this article

We welcome your opinions but libellous and abusive comments are not allowed.












We are committed to protecting your privacy. By clicking 'Send comment' you consent to Cross Rhythms storing and processing your personal data. For more information about how we care for your data please see our privacy policy.

NAVIGATION
CONNECT WITH CROSS RHYTHMS
SIGNUP

Connect with Cross Rhythms by signing up to our email mailing list

A Step Change...
Cross Rhythms Media Training Centre
DISCOGRAPHY
ARTIST PROFILES
Artists & DJs A-Z
# A B C D E F G H I J K L M
N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z #
Or keyword search

 

PRAYER ROOMS
Watering Hole
Be heard in your pain and needs and cry out to your God in our Prayer Room