Throwback Review – Urban Species: Blanket

I came across this album, released in 1999, mostly due to a rather large infatuation withImogen Heap. She is featured here, on the track Blanket, which is a great, laid back hip-hop song. Because of that one track I decided to give the entire album a try. Can’t say I came away entirely impressed but what did surprise me is that there are 3 or 4 songs here that are really good.

Urban Species is really a solo venture, though the name might lead you to think otherwise. The style here is ultra laid back british hip-hop. The genre is a blessing and a curse. Sometimes it’s great to be laid back and chill. Sometimes it’s nice to pick up the pace. Unfortunately, the one song he does pick up the pace in, turns out to be pretty awful. The vocal style is constantly slowed down and at times really drab. At times it does work well but after listening to an entire album with little to no change on the vocals, it becomes tedious. The production here feels very jazzy at times but for the most part I think this could be looked at as a trip-hop or downtempo disc. Some of the production reminds me of Lamb but comes across feeling very different because of the vocals present.

Most Anticipated Music of 2009

I always enjoy entering a new year.  I get to think about all the things that I have to wait for.  In this post I am going to go over all of the music that I am looking forward to in the new year, and you should be looking forward to it as well.  This list isn’t in any particular order and I did my best to dig and scratch for release info.  Some releases I found an estimate, some the actual date and some with the unfortunate TBD.  Take a look at the list, see if you agree and add some of the ones you are looking for in ’09.

Imogen Heap – TBD:  This one is going to seem out of place when you read the rest of my list, but that’s OK, the girl’s got skills.  She got a little bit of radio play with Goodnight and Go, a song that was played on the then famous The O.C. on Fox.  Like all other talented female artists before her, the radio play was fleeting because everyone was wondering what Britney Spears was doing with her hair.  Imogen has had a pretty nice career for herself.  Two solo albums, a side project with Frou Frou and some wonderful guest appearances on various other albums (Check our her video with Urban Species below).  She’s hard to pigeon hole into one specific category, so I just say she’s one of the best female vocalists with a heavy electronic influence.  I guess it could be Trip-Hop but I just don’t know.  Either way, this is going to be a good release.  She has consistently gotten better throughout her career and I don’t plan on that stopping now.  Late in ’08 she released the single Not Now, But Soon.  The track may or may not be on her ’09 release.  Regardless the single is a great song and signs of good things to come.