Virago Magazine vəˈräɡō/: a woman of strength or spirit; a female warrior
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UK Beat alchemist, Mute Speaker, is arguably the first contender for album of the year. “Take yourself Apart,” an anarchic collage of Funkadelic’s ‘Maggot Brain’, ‘Boot Camp Click’s boom-bap, and Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’ all held in place in Mute Speaker’s rudie-in-outerspace, dub soundscape. Featuring a litany of young, hungry MC’s who attack the mic with righteous fury – Chris Clarke, J-Thorn, Gajah, Express Fresh, BeONd, Capsize, Gel Roc and Pause, all help to make this album reek of revolution.
After the Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry meets Pete Rock intro, ‘Deconstruction’ sets the tone. Chris Clarke punches in for the first of seven tracks. ‘Little Puppet’ is a potent injection of grunge-funk laid on a stout 70s stax beat and anchored by Clarke’s command of the mic.
I play the bullshit from afar/let people reveal who they are
Amen, young brother. Amen.
Other stand-out cuts include “Put The Work In” featuring J-Thorn and “Slow Down” featuring Pause. And if you’re like me and lament the state of the genre we love called hip-hop, DON’T put this album off. Run and get this and tell your friends.
