Album Review: Recetas by Mic Mountain

 

Recetas

By

Mic Mountain

 

The Upcoming Album from Washington DC’s Mic Mountain is based around the food that comes from his Puerto Rican heritage and promises to be a proper dining experience for our audible delight.

With Mic Mountain serving up these Recetas (Recipes) at the front of house, he has hired some top musical chefs to cook everything up, Mr Scratch Hook (Who also provides the cuts), Goliath Kong, and DNA Beats. There are also some top-notch additional ingredients that Mic Mountain has added to the menu to add his own spin to things. So, be on the lookout for these additional spices: Krook Rock, Jay David, La’Bori Dee, Duendy, The Microphone Prince, DJ Exes, CrDnlSn, Powerule, Thirstin Howl the 3rd, Cynical Minded, Sacx One, and Paco Loco (RIP).

With that said, I don’t want to keep you in anticipation too long. So, feel free to join me as I take my seat at the table to sample these delights and bring you take on the menu…

 

With sun streaming through the window and a slight chill coming from the AC, I take my seat at the table, ready for the first of thirteen courses. I begin with the Recetas (Intro), Heavy drums and horns bring an upbeat sound that fits so well with the hot weather and gets you bouncing. Mic Mountain mixes his vocals between English and Spanish as he greets me and sets out what I’m about to experience, how he approaches flavours, and how it’s all about each dish complementing the other and more. Now I’m salivating at the thought of the flavours I’m about to indulge in, and It’s time for my first dish, which is Pastelitos. Now Pastelitos are like little Empanadas, and it features Krook Rock and Jay David. The sound is heavy on the horns with congas that create a lively taste for your ears to digest with a smile. These three little starters have some subtle differences in taste, but all have that Spanish essence running through them. They do not fill you up but leave you knowing that these ingredients can bring flavour to a great many meals. Next up is a palate cleanser of Dulce De Leche (Candy Milk), which is infused with La’Bori Dee for an extra kick. The sound has a heavy beat which has bass guitar and flute flavours running through it, creating a refreshing energy dancing on your tongue. As you pause for a short time, Mic Mountain and La’Bori Dee cast your mind to what is going on beyond the glass windows. As the flavours come alive, the world does its thing, passing by as you watch.

Café con Leche brings Coffee with Milk to the table; now I’m not a coffee drinker, so this was an experience for me. Duendy and The Microphone Prince joined Mic Mountain here for a heavy shot of flavour. The sound and heavy horns with keys and more bring a sound that dispersed the bitterness with an energy that makes you want to bounce. The flavours here bring a constant mix of sweetness and bitterness that complement each other in your ears with each tasting, setting you up perfectly for the next course, which is Pineapple Pique, which sees DJ Exes join Mic Mountain on this one. The sound is upbeat, with the piano getting your whole body moving. Pineapple Pique is a Puerto Rican hot sauce, and the mix of flavours that go into making it are reflected in the lyrics and the vocal tones here, which mix things up and hit you from different angles just when you least expect it. After that heat, it’s time to change things a little with some Mofongo, a dish that is made with fried mashed plantains. Horns take the forefront here with a pounding beat, which gives you time for a little pause while still moving in your seat. Mofongo seems to be one of those dishes that can go with many things, such as rice and beans. Here, my Mofongo came with a heavy dose of Mic Mountain giving me the lowdown on what he is about on a daily basis. Just like we were having a laid-back chat over this part of the meal.

CrDnlSn is a part of Sancocho, a stew that is a comfort food in Puerto Rico. The sound has moving piano, horns, and an infectious beat. You really get the feel of how Sancocho is a feel-good food as you listen along; here it gives you the feeling that no matter what is happening around you, this dish will brighten and lighten any day. Next up, it’s time for a fried chicken dish, Pollo Frito, which has a burst of flavours including an appearance from Powerule. Cuts and a head nod beat make this one the kinda dish that heads will want to bounce to. As you sample the dish, it takes you back to the nineties hip hop era, giving you a huge dose of nostalgia along the way. As much as you might wanna stay in that reflective mind state, you have to bring yourself back for the next course, which is Bacalaito. A deep-fried salted cod fish dish that looks like a pancake, and this version of the dish features the flavours of Thirstin Howl the 3rd alongside Mic Mountain. Organ notes, horns, and a pounding beat give this one the kind of taste that will get your head nodding big time. The flavours in this one elevate it beyond a simple pancake-looking fish dish; this one will have you wanting seconds every time, even when the razor-sharp cuts slice through your awareness. I was enjoying this so much that I was only vaguely aware of the radio being on in the background and strangely introducing the next course, like the announcer was in the building; perhaps he was. That just heightened my anticipation for Morrir Sonando, which is a traditional drink of milk, orange juice, and sugar. This recipe also had a hint of Cynical Mind blended in for added flavour. The horns and piano brought a laid-back air over the beat, giving you pause to sit back and enjoy every mouthful. The lyrics and the vibe give this a reflective feel that has you casting your mind back alongside Mic Mountain and Cynical Mind as the taste refreshes your palate.

Sangria in Puerto Rico is a twist on the traditional Spanish drink and features rum, tropical and citrus fruits. The recipe I was presented with also featured a dash of Sacx One. That hit of Mic Mountain and Sacx One only drops after the initial beat flavour kicks in with percussion, piano and xylophone, to get you hyped up. This one goes down so easily that you realise pretty quickly that too much of this one will have you floating off in more ways than one; trust me, as I suddenly realised I was approaching the penultimate track. That track is the quick Hill Billy Skit which features Paco Loco. This one is a comedic answerphone message that was left for Mic Mountain at the restaurant, just a quick little giggle before your final plate is delivered. That final plate is a classic Puerto Rican dish of chicken and rice, called Arroz con pollo. Today that dish comes seasoned with Paco Loco for something a little extra. The initial flavour is one of heavy drums, horns and keys which literally gets you up and dancing from the get-go. As you consume this one, the addition of the vocal flavours gives you the impression that the taste of this dish brings a party vibe, not just to your mouth but to the entire restaurant as the whole place is buzzing by the time the meal is over.

 

It’s great to have fun with a review, and Recetas has the kind of vibe that allows me to do just that. Now, I might be from the UK and not speak Spanish, but that didn’t seem to matter here as sound, lyrics, and the entire feel of the album just seemed to fill you with a sense of good food, good company, and enjoying those things in a cultural sense and beyond.

Being from the UK, my knowledge of Puerto Rico has been mainly gained from my interest in subjects such as the Chupacabra; that’s another story, but Recetas and Mic Mountain have helped to give me another look at the culture and, in this case, the food that is a big part of that culture. The celebration of the food, and the drinks which complement it, allows you to drift off into your own mind and get a small feeling of what it is to be and experience a different culture, and that is invaluable.

The other thing here is that the album fuses Hip Hop and classic Puerto Rican musical vibes, musically and lyrically as well. What I felt was amazing here was not the fact that I was not aware of what was being said in Spanish but, the fact that everything flowed regardless of my understanding, which made me cast my mind to the likes of Cypress Hill and Hip Hop in other native tongues, you don’t always have to understand the words to feel the energy and the vibe of what is being said. Sometimes just feeling something is just as valuable as you understand it on a whole different level.

Recetas is a great, themed album that sees Mic Mountain displaying some solid lyricism and flows across both English and Spanish, showing that he is not about to slow down. You also get the sense that bringing his cultural heritage to the forefront is only a good thing, as it gives the listener a great insight into that culture and the energy it brings. The featured artists also have that bilingual rap delivery, merged with their own individual energy that just complements the album in all ways.

The production also merges that Hip Hop sound with the Puerto Rican sound, and it brings a feel-good energy from start to finish that elicits an energy throughout your body that is infectious and just wants to make you move. Recetas is a concept album that brings a focus to the Puerto Rican culture in a way that makes you not just enjoy what you hear, but also makes you want to try the food, sample flavours, and meet the people. This is what real Hip Hop does; it brings everyone closer together, reminding us that we are all one, in some way, shape, and form.

You will not want to miss this one as it has feel-good party vibes running through it. So, pull up a chair, order your plate and enjoy…

Recetas releases on 15th September, but check the Bandcamp link below for details of the Album listening party.

My humble thanks to Mic Mountain for giving me the chance to bring you my inspired thoughts on Recetas.

See you next time,

Steve.

LINKS

Pre-order the album here and check for Album listen party:

https://micmountain.bandcamp.com/album/recetas

Mic Mountain Website:

https://micmountain.com/

Mic Mountain Socials:

https://www.facebook.com/michael.mountain.34432

https://www.instagram.com/therealmicmountain/

https://www.youtube.com/@therealmicmountain

VIDEOS

Recetas at La Farmosa - Commercial

Pineapple Pique ft DJ Exes

Bacalaito ft Thirstin' Howl the 3rd

Album Review: Forever Smoking by Joe Blow

 

Forever Smoking

By

Joe Blow

Produced by DJ Jaffa

 

When your own world is being turned upside down, you just have mix things up a little bit and pick and chose what you can do in any given moment. That is how I am approaching this week’s review. I’m still picking up and catching up on past reviews and this one I felt I didn’t want to put off any longer.

Last year I was honoured to be able to review the Smoke On The Water EP by Joe Blow. Only a short while after a few short chats with Rob and the review going live, I would learn that he had passed away. So, this review is dedicated to his memory and the music that he brought to the world.

Reviewing a posthumous album, such as Forever Smoking, is a tough job, especially when it has been out for some time and many of you will have heard it and know what it means to you. As a reviewer I do what I do, but there is always a little voice at the back of your mind saying ‘I hope I can do this one proud. So, what I am going to do here is give you some background from the promo for the album and then do my usual deep dive.

 

Occasionally, an album arrives that transcends music. This one has been carried over the line by love, loyalty and grief. Rob was on the brink of wrapping up the recording of a new album ‘Forever Smoking’, recorded in close collaboration with legendary Cardiff DJ Jason 'DJ Jaffa' Farrell. Thanks to his closest friends rallying around to carry the torch on Rob’s behalf.

Forever Smoking is a gimmick free two-man collaboration. No features, just DJ Jaffa's warm, immaculately crafted production and Joe Blow's unmistakable South Wales flow. The album grew organically from a casual creative exchange:

“I’d sent Rob a few beats to check out. Then all of a sudden I get an email with vocals for one of the tracks, and then another one. So I just kept sending beats and Rob would keep recording." - DJ Jaffa

In addition to the energy and personality captured on the album, a handful of Joe Blow's own excited voice notes make an appearance, further capturing that enthusiasm and boundless energy for the music he loved.

Forever Smoking is the final, definitive entry in that lineage, and its name has taken on a meaning none of them could have anticipated.

 

 

Join me now on a trip through Forever Smoking…

 

The album is ten tracks deep and begins with The Word. Joe’s voice can be heard as he is getting ready to record the track and our minds are immediately brought to the memory of man Rob was. DJ Jaffa brings us a heavy beat that is backed by keys that give this one a chilled aspect where the drums take the forefront alongside a nice bass vibe. There are kinda two things about this one that strike you, first is that its all about the words, which are what make Rap what it is and this one showcase’s Joe’s wordplay skills. However, there is more to it than that as this one also gives an insight into what makes him tick what it comes to his craft. It’s not just the word; it’s the mentality behind it as well. Next up is Just Be (Original Version) it is the original as we are treated to a remix a bit later. The sound on this back’s the pounding beat with a nerve-jangling sound before switching it to heavy bass vibe, then switching back. DJ Jaffa also drops some slick cuts along the way too. Here Joe drops the kinda track that doesn’t just shoe off his lyricism but, also looks at the fact he is human, like the rest of us, trying to make money for his family and occasionally have a cheeky smoke too. There is also a deeper aspect to, one that hits you deeply, the fact that he says about staying true to who he is, being himself and being authentic. This is something that says a lot about who he was as Rob, and what he brought to the mic as Joe…

Double OG’s electronic vibes bring us into this one before cuts and a banging beat thud into your ears, getting your head nodding. Joe takes us off into a parallel universe where no fucks are given. He seems to take on an alter ego with a street slang, more smoking and an uncompromising vibe as the hardcore man on the street, showing that he is more than able to switch from lived experience to story telling in a heartbeat. If You Don’t Like Me begins with another of Rob’s voice notes as he gives Jaffa some idea of what he is looking for. The heavy beat is backed by horns and guitars that give this one a cracking vibe you can’t help but move too. There is also some rapid-fire cuts from Jaffa that Joe alluded to in the intro. Joe’s vocals, like the beat, have a little ragga twang to them at times. This one shows us what happens when Joe replies to the haters out there, he is basically saying that this is me right here, this is who I am and what I do. If you don’t like it, that’s fine because I don’t have to like you either, but I’m not changing who I am for anyone. From there we move on to Each One Teach One where the beat is a proper head nod infectious vibe that also brings a smile to your face as you listen. There is an element of that rap braggadocio here as Joe unloads about what he does and his uncompromising style. This is one of those tracks you can just sit back and enjoy.

Halfway done with the album and there is no let up in sight as Vision hits your ears. The sound has a lighter tone to it. The beat might still be pounding but, there is a laid-back vibe with guitars, tambourines and more. That lighter tone hides a deeper vibe to this as Joe speaks on the injustices in the world around us. That hits home hard as we still live in a world where just holding up a flag and standing up for the oppressed can mean you are vilified while governments can engage in wars where the killing of people is hailed as lawful. Which those deep thoughts still weighing on our minds, You Ain’t a Bad Man brings keys, guitars and more to back a banging beat, all combining to getting you jumping. Here Joe calls out all those who make themselves out to be more than they are. Those who act touch, but really aren’t that and just do it all for show and not being their authentic self. There is a dark side to this to as it looks at the gangland life and the violence that comes with it, but the message is to be who you truly are, because making yourself out to be something else is not a good look and will only end in tears. Rewind The Tape drops with razor sharp cuts, a solid head nod beat, backed by a laid-back sound that has a soulful edge to it. This one has an upbeat feel to it as Joe takes us back in the day, reflecting on the days of old and how those experiences shaped who he became. This is one of those tracks that always brings a smile as it reminds us to look back on our own experiences with love in our hearts at where we have been and where we are now.

The penultimate track of the album is the Just Be (Remix). This one takes the essence of what the original said, and See’s DJ Jaffa put it to a more funk infused vibe that gets you moving. This sound brings more focus to the lyrics, and in doing so, it brings more of a spotlight to that vibe of just being yourself. It takes nothing from the original version, just allows you to really focus in on Joe’s words. The album is rounded off with Going Mad, where the sound has a more chilled vibe that backs the solid beat. This one is a far more personal that see’s Joe wrestling with who we is, life in general and loss. This one really has you thinking deeply about your own life as the words sink into your awareness. There is also one last voice note from Rob that is mixed in here, and that does have an impact as you listen, touching your soul, because we all have those moments that have us questioning who we truly are.

 

I’m going to admit that I had to pause a minute after writing that before I attempted to sum up the album. In fact, there was a moment when I even considered not even doing that as the album speaks for itself. But there is always more to say and so, I decided to round it off as best I can.

The main thing to take away from listening to this album is that it had to be released. You can’t have a better way to remember the memory of someone than an album like this. It gives you a deep insight into Joe/Rob and shows you that he was not only an incredible lyricist but, he was constantly moving forward, always honing his craft and putting his very heart and soul into everything he did. Those voice notes add a very personal edge to things, hearing his voice just musing over tracks and having a laugh at his approach to things, do touch you deeply and leave a lasting impression on you long after the album ends.

You also get this sense of the working relationship that Rob and DJ Jaffa had. You really feel they were able to vibe of each other and had a knack for understanding exactly what the other was looking for in a track.

DJ Jaffa brings us sounds that not only perfectly compliment Joe Blow and his delivery, but they are also infused with different sounds that have been inspired across years of making beats and crate digging, understanding exactly what sound you want and how to get it.

Lastly, this album is infused with the love, grief and appreciation that his friends had for who Rob was and what he was doing as Joe Blow. They have brought us a posthumous album that is not an audible clip art of verses sandwiched between guest artists. This album is the sum of two artists working alongside each other to produce a top tier album that was the next rung on the latter for both. This is about as fitting a tribute to a friend and colleague as you can get.

Forever Smoking is packed full of the finest lyricism, lived experiences, no holes barred storytelling, alongside some banging beats and razor-sharp cuts. It now stands as a testament to two of the best from Wales to ever do it.

Forever Smoking is released through Veteran Records.

Rest In Beats Rob/Joe and thank you for the music and the memories.

My huge and humble thanks to 4DEE for sending this over and the promo material that I have used in the opening to the review.

 

Enjoy and I’ll see you next time.

Steve

 LINKS

Grab your copy here:

https://joeblow1977.bandcamp.com/album/forever-smoking

All proceeds from the sale of the album go to Rob's Children.