Bliss N Eso

With a first single called Woodstock 2008 and album art that looks like it could grace the front cover of a Hawkwind LP, Bliss N Eso's third album 'Flying Colours' makes an unexpected first impression.

"This is a freedom album for us," declares Max MacKinnon aka MC Esoterik. "We can do as many anthems about getting pissed and having a good time and partying," but with this album it's time for Eso and fellow MC Bliss to "talk about us."

With a schedule of interviews ahead of him, MacKinnon has a day of talking about himself to look forward to, and he certainly doesn't sound as if he's about to run out of things to say. "From friends to fans and just to pure randoms, they'd be going 'what's the new album like, what's it going to be called?'," the talkative MC says of the build up to this release. "But before we did it, I was going 'well, I don't know what it's going to sound like, that's only gonna come out of us when we sit down and do it'."

And while there are still anthems about "having a good time and partying" (including the aforementioned single Woodstock 2008), the group's recording method, which Eso describes as "lock ourselves in a black studio for 15 weeks and just let's have fun," bore some interesting results.

Last year's Bullet And A Target recycled the Citizen Cope tune of that name also used recently by Rhymefest to create one of the trio's (rounded out by DJ Izm) most radio-friendly efforts to date, but while this represents one side of the album, there are also plenty of other sounds. Take the Wu-Tang style vocal snippets, an unexpected Angus & Julia Stone sample on the smooth Eye Of The Storm or the bouncy collage production of Royal Flush and equally playful rapping that accompanies it.

This variety will prove useful when they embark on their next venture, The Unified Tour that will bring together four quite different hip-hop groups from around Australia, and promises to present an interesting showcase of the genre. The two MCs and DJ called Bliss N Eso represent the most traditional line-up on the bill that also includes local lads The Funkoars offering their usual crazy funk-steeped beats and x-rated rhymes. The Gold Coast's Winnie Coopers bring the funk in a live band form, while Melbourne's True Live will offer classical and jazz influences with their onstage string section.

Or, as MacKinnon puts it, "You've got Funkoars who are gonna be there on a hardcore kind of tip and some witty rhymes, then you got True Live with the musical vibe and The Winnie Coopers, with just the 'how you doing, what's going on, nudge, nudge, wink, wink, your grandma's looking cool, let's party' and no disrespect, it's good music."

And as for his own place in the line-up? Despite his penchant for talking about himself, the MC is temporarily lost for words, exasperatedly making bird noises before declaring "I don't know mate, what can we say - I'm the last firework in the bucket to make it all go bang."

It will certainly be interesting to see the reception that the tour receives, especially among younger fans who don't remember a time before Australian hip-hop was integrated into the mainstream. At the mention of that one word, however, Eso becomes circumspect and halts the conversation.

"Hey, hey, watch out with the words, there," he interjects hastily. "My whole take on that whole thing is people make the music they want to make, and whether it's famous or not, that's totally up to the audience. But when you can be in a situation where you can get played on radio and you've got a fanbase and there are video clips that you might do that get put on 'Rage' or MTV or 'Video Hits', the whole thing was, if your music didn't change to conform with what is usually on the radio on what's on television then by God, go and do it."

With Australian hip-hop now widely heard and distributed, the topic of mainstream exposure is one fraught with emotion. No doubt this is behind the defensive tone that Eso adopts, but it's good to hear a musician who is still passionate about his art, and the MC is just as passionate about the crowds who come along to the shows, and about the music itself. Ultimately, with the prospect of a tour taking in regional centres around the country, Eso can't help but be excited about the prospects.

"It blows my mind how big it is, and how many kids are into it for the right reasons."

Alexis Buxton-Collins

The Unified Tour arrives at Flinders University on Thurs 29 and Fri 30 May.

'Flying Colours is out now through Illusive.