Like most debuts, Jack Prest’s influences are stamped all over this. Think Madlib, Illpickl, RJD2 and Blockhead. Compared to the dominant Sydney sound from Invada acts like Katalyst and Soup, it’s great to hear a young Sydney producer finding his own influences. And while definitely an exploratory affair, these five tracks feel like something of a statement of intent.
As producer and DJ for 3rd Estate and Flowstate, as well as sitting in for Good Buddha, Prest is no stranger to working with MCs. Unfortunately, the EP’ only vocal track Your Lifetime is also its weakest. Flowstate vocalists Orlando Savage and Gareth Livingstone structure the track well, but it never gets beyond jazz hip hop lite.
On the RJD2-inspired title track, Prest sets a sped-up vocal sample against a stutteringly funky hip hop break. Prest seems to understand that mid-tempo boogie down tracks are just as important to hip hop as the stoned boom bap and Can’ Understand is the funk-fuelled result. Elsewhere the pace slows to ethereal Gary Numan synth hop (Troubled Days) and sultry Philly soul (Hot “n’ Slow).
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Listen to streams at Jack Prest’s MP3.com.au site.
