Count Bass D – Act Your Waist Size (Fatbeats/Shogun)

Another promo CD spoilt by a voice-over on every track. Each one kicks off with Nashville rapper and musician Count Bass D reading the album title and asking listeners not to burn the CD – “Please don’ copy, seriously, we need every sale” – which is kind of funny, but what’s the difference between this copy sent out to music writers and the ones in the shop next week? Can’ they be burnt just as easily? More to the point, don’ labels realise they’re aiming a gun at their own feet. Like most other writers, I’m also making radio, DJing, and I can’ play this CD in any of those avenues. Fortunately, “Act Your Waist Size’ is a good listen, despite the intermittent distractions. You might know the MC from 1995′ “Pre-Life Crisis’ or his MF Doom-esque 2002 record “Dwight Spitz,’ he actually guested on Doom’ “Mmm…Food.’ Those sketches justified comparisons to Doom projects like that and Madvillain and attracted widespread critical acclaim. While Doom has humour and lyrical rhythm, the Count has more soul, and at times he approaches the warmth of Aloe Blacc’s recent record or Steve Spacek. But Act Your Waist Size is missing the songs, and although it might just be my experience with this tainted promo, it barely lives up to the potential of his earlier work.