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New Cross Soul: Reality

A great album that has probably been released at the wrong time and maybe in the wrong country. Sadly, over the last few years our hip hop has really been hijacked here in New Zealand. Diversity and originality has not been encouraged at the popular level and it is thanks to the generic blandness of broadcast sounds that this CD was so instantly refreshing to my ears. New Cross Soul is a collaboration between Irish drum’n’bass MC (Gok Leo Vale aka MC Wuzza), Kiwi beat maker Manaia Toa and a local singer who goes by the name of Dee. The result is a stunning mixture of gritty, minimal drum’n’bass-influenced hip hop instrumentals, layered with unique local vocal styles, straight Aotearoan and Irish lyrical representation. ‘Reality’ will definitely hold appeal for fans of Tricky, Massive Attack and the first Breaks Co-Op album. Out now through Rhythmethod.

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