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Mark RaeInto The Depths Grand Central/Inertia Mark Rae is famous not only as the founder/owner of Grand Central Records, but also as one half of the brilliant Rae & Christian (who, with the likes of Portishead, Tricky, Massive Attack and more recently Gorillaz, were at the forefront of new age hip-hop-influenced artists that emerged from the UK in the mid-90s). 'Into The Depths' is Rae's second solo outing and while the hip-hop influence remains, this album showcases his musical versatility and maturity. There is the funky big beat hip-hop tracks of Mind, Body And Soul and Put It Back Together - the style that we have grown to expect and love. However, this album offers a lot more, delivering an exciting insight into Rae's creativity. Without You is probably best described as 'hick-hop' with its quirky synthesizer sounds and almost cheesy vibe. The only saving grace is Veba's powerful vocals that add a new dimension to the track. Veba makes a welcome appearance on the uplifting Reach Out To Me, providing the soul and vocal inspiration the track demands. Rae expands his repertoire and adds depth to the album by delivering unique sounds in the astral trip-hop of Rise Up and Depth Charge a reggae/dancehall production. The album concludes with the psychedelic San Francisco, in which he takes the mic and drops the vocals for the track. Rae's new focus on using more "natural" instruments and less digital sounds give this album a more organic feel compared with his debut. Rae may have been influenced by hip-hop but this album shows that he can successfully take his music in any path he chooses. I'm both scared and excited pondering what path he'll take next.  |
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