The new album from DJ Muggs and Planet Asia, Pain Language lays it on thick from the opening track “Sleeper Cellâ€, setting the mood with menacing undertones. The lyrical flow continues with its relentlessness, and theme, with “Pain Languageâ€, with a looped guitar refrain atop a steady back beat. B-Real features on the standout track “9mmâ€, rolling beats and cymbals underpinning an eerie spaced out guitar scream, effected as if other worldly, retaining a stifling tension for the whole track.
The diversity of the sample sources are what make this a refreshing listen, not unlike much of MF Dooms material, using eclectic sounds with great skill, creating something totally new, this is the test of a truly artistic hip-hop producer. Digging from many sources from rock, jazz, funk, soul, psychedelia, folk and soundtracks, gives this release a varied musical palette, which is sadly missing from much of today’ hip-hop productions.
Containing some memorable guests such as B-Real, Slick Jacken, Killah Priest, Cynic & Scratch, Prodigal Sunn & Tri State, Turban & Chace Infinite and GZA, Pain Language is a dark but delicious ride on the dark side of hip-hop.
Wayne Stronell
