Gold Pyramids
On Black Sand
By
Cut Beetlez
& Dopamine 189
Last year was a hot year for the duo from Finland, Cut
Beetlez, who dropped a number of releases of which I reviewed a fair few
including the CBNG LP with the Nice Guys, The Overflow single series Parts One Two & Three and of course the stunning What Beetlez LP. Finally, they are
back for 2021, firstly with the single AMIRRORCA along side PhillGoodX7 and now with this new album.
If you have read my reviews and caught any of these fine releases,
then you will know that HP Lovescratch & DJ J-Man are always upping their
game and experimenting with new ways and sounds to take Hip Hop and Turntablism
to new levels and dimensions.
Following their collaborations with the likes of Nice Guys
and A-F-R-O etc, this time they hook up with Berkley California Emcee Dopamine
189, a beat maker, producer, and emcee, he also part of the KTD Crew, FSC Crew
and Berkley CA All Stars to bring you
another banger.
Alongside Dopamine 189 there are also a host of other
talented artists including emcees One Feather, Nac One and Matrix P, also
featured is singer Etni Kahn and saxophonist Tuomas Sipponen, all bringing
their own special vibes to bear on the project.
The release is all polished off by some striking artwork
from Noom and design by the gifted Mr Krum. So, this is one of those releases
you can’t pin any expectations on as it’s the Cut Beetlez. All we know is it
will be a treat for the ears.
So, let’s get into it…
The album hits from the get-go with a short jazz infused Intro
in which Dopamine 189 drops a little bit about himself and what his impressions
of the Cut Beetlez were. The vibe of the track with its dash of cuts thrown in,
really sets the tone of the album and the vision reflected by the cover
artwork. From there we are treated to a mind-bending mix of Organ notes, cuts,
claps, bells, and Bass which creates this almost Hip-Hop vision quest vibe for Sun
Surfer. Dopamine 189 and One feather bring a lot of thought-provoking
visions to bear on this track and detail the value of healing the mind.
Alongside this the values and teachings of indigenous cultures shines through
as the importance of living in harmony with the land is impressed on us. From
loving yourself and loving the land the Beetlez and Dopamine 189 bring a
different love to the forefront on Blue Lotus. Here the focus is a
celebration of that special woman in your life and the background is a deep
jazz vibe of guitar, piano, and the Sax of Tuomas Sipponen with a sprinkling of
cuts which creates the perfect mood.
From the deep experience of love, we move into another deep
experience as a multi-layered sound scape of Electronic notes, cymbals, guitar,
and cuts has us transported to another musical dimension which is the perfect
backdrop for Dopamine 189 to take us on a ride around the pyramids and ancient
cultures then back to his music and the vibe of live shows. You can almost
picture 189 stood atop the great pyramid of Giza flanked by the Cut Beetlez on
top of the other two pyramids and all under a Grenadine Sky. The Beetlez
create another musical sound scape to test the mind as they bring in Bass,
Horns, Drums, and synths to create a laid-back soulful funk vibe that switches
pace between verses to a jazz fusion instrumental. Meanwhile 189 is joined by
Matrix P to speak on those who have walked before us and passed on, thus
creating this thoughtful space that has you casting your mind to the universal
lake of memory and all the while, above fly Neon Kites.
A short Skit takes us into the second half of the
album on jazz tip with Dopamine 189 briefly explaining why he is rocking with
the Beetlez. Organ vibes, Cuts, Bass, Horns, and drums initially hit you with
something akin to a Hip-Hop big band feel before dropping you to the relative
sparce ambiance of back street jazz club. While all this is going on Dopamine
189 and One Feather breakdown what it is to get deep into your music
creativity, Life and Conscious Evolution and pay attention as you might need Clairvoyance
to understand this one. There is no time for your mind to settle before a mix
of organ notes, Horns, electronic vibes, and cuts spears your consciousness.
189 and Nac One jump in to spin a web of deadly but, precious vocals that has
you questioning, who is the more deadly here? The 14K Tarantulas or the
Emcees?
Bringing us down a bit is the more soulful organ and drum vibes
that are interwoven with some vocal notes and cuts. Dopamine 189 speaks on that
special kind of relationship between two people who have a deep bond and
together engage in Stereo Romance. The final track of the album is a
deep soulful blend of drums, organ notes, cuts, and the vocals of Etni Kahn. As
the vibes have you floating in space Dopamine 189 gets deep into merging life
and loves with the physical embodiment of earthly minerals, something that
gives reality to our emotions and feelings.
Gold Pyramids On Black Sand is a challenging, for
some reason I don’t want to say experimental, Hip-Hop success. There are huge
multi-layered soundscapes here that merge perfectly with the emcee’s vocal talents.
The whole project ebbs and flows precisely from start to finish, perfectly
blending pace and musical styles to create something that, at times, is like
some kind of Hip-Hop meditative experience. But not only does it flow and blend
so well but, it challenges your mind and sense of reality to the point that you
are not aware that you have only spent a little under 23 minutes in the company
of the Cut Beetles and Dopamine 189. It is like you have just experienced the
Hip-Hop musical equivalent of a Dali painting…
It is truly something to pack so much musical innovation and
knowledge into such a timeframe it feels like it is a much longer listening
experience. The fusion of street knowledge and some more esoteric with the
indigenous culture connection and that sense of self perfectly bends stretches
and moulds your sense of reality as you listen and immerse yourself into the
experience.
The Cut Beetles are successful in again stretching their
creative limits and bringing you a sound that is both undoubtedly theirs but,
at the same time fresh and unique and teaming with Dopamine 189 it keeps it
Hip-Hop but with an open mind. 189 brings that street element of Hip-Hop but
tinged with a deeper understanding of subjects that extend beyond the box which
is perfect for the vibe the Cut Beetles bring with their constant tweaking of
the boundaries of Hip-Hop Music.
This is Hip-Hop for a new reality. Where listening with an
open mind has you with one foot in boom bap street and the other in a portal to
a reality where Hip-Hop stretches the boundaries of all you know and love…
You to can experience Gold Pyramids On Black Sand
from today…
Huge thanks to the Cut Beetlez for sending this over to me.
On that note,
I’m not sure if I’m outta here or not…
Steve
LINKS
All the links for Gold Pyramids on Black Sand can be found Here:
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