Quasimoto - 'The Further Adventures Of Lord Quas' (Stones Throw) Released 09/05/05

Gangstarr once said, to amazing effect, ‘The Question Remains’, and upon listening to Quasimoto you may think they were on to something. Now that’s not to say Gangstarr were ever likely to be rapping about an album that was released several years after they’d said that, but after hearing this crazy shit anything is possible. Take several pounds of incredibly strong skunk, mix well with a freaky MC chipmunk, throw in Madlib boom bap add a dash of Sweet Sweet Back and you would still be left with way, way too many brain cells…

First track ‘Bullyshit’ wobbles through the speakers  full of gleeful comedy jazz and serves as a warning that this is not your average hip hop record. Vincent Price’s evil cackle from the end of ‘Thriller’ smokes along with what sounds like the kind of loungecore you would hear in Connery era Bond films. There are tons of sampled skits in and around the songs much akin to DJ Shadow / Unkle’s use of old US TV commercials added for mucho mirth. Unfortunately though, the humour, and the Alvin and the Chipmunks’ style sped up emceeing do end up getting on your tits much like dropping  ash on yourself when your smoking in bed. Most of the pot head ‘gags’ a lot of the time just sound immature. Having said that this CD contains some genuinely perceptive insights on what drugs and booze do to your soul without glorifying them or lecturing you once.

‘The Further Adventures…’ for all its uniqueness, doesn’t really start to work until MF Doom returns to collaborate on ‘Closer’ eight tracks in under the name of Madvillain. Madlib conjures up an unusual stew of  dingy soul and deep sinister cymbal crashes to rival even DJ Muggs best work. ‘Maingirl’ follows this and takes up straight where they left off; backwards beats, indian raggas and swirling string stabs make the CD pick up with real pace and at least two thirds of this LP is not only strange but loose and funky. The title of best choon though, goes to the heavyweight sarcasm of ‘Demo Tape’. As the name suggests this is a rant about the (lack of?) quality contained in the showcase CDs Quasimoto receives at gigs from fans. Sounding like The Wu Tang Clan at their most threatening, the melancholy orchestra cuts smoothly against jazz vocals. “You only reap just what you sooooooooooow…” Coos an angelic voice and the smart money says its not expressing a passion for farming.

A lack of focus throughout stops ‘The Further Adventures of Lord Quas’ matching Edan’s recent effort and it would seem that the Boston wordsmith’s title of ‘Oddest Character In Rap’ remains unchallenged. Too much weed and a blatant disregard for quality control burn a hot rock scar on what would otherwise be an excellent body of work. Twenty Six tracks is a lot of fucking songs for anyone to have on album let alone a cartoon voiced weirdo that’s partial to the odd reefer or ten. So? Will Quas eventually manage to lose the fat from his ‘rekkids’ and make the next ‘3 Feet High & Rising? To quote Madlib “Tomorrow never knows what the future will bring…” But, as Gangstarr said, the question remains…