Bracken

We Know About The Need

[3/5] Anticon’s transition from abrasive hip-hop to evocative glitch-pop has been a productive musical metamorphosis. And you can argue that what really kicked it off was the 2001 collaboration between Anticon’s braintrust and Leeds’ lo-fi soundscapers Hood. So now that the two parties have never sounded more alike, it makes sense that they’ve joined forces for Hood co-founder Chris Adams’ solo debut. We Know About The Need boasts neither the British pastoral creepiness of Adams’ day band, nor the melodic strengths of Anticon all-stars like why? or Alias, but this sound research rolls past smoothly. Credit the throbbing dub basslines and tons of reverbed atmosphere surrounding Adams’ boyish vocals; those attributes anchor found-sound collages like “Of Athroll Slains” and the majestic, choral “Safe Safe Safe.” The need for The Need is debatable, but it’s a nice addition to Anticon’s growing catalog of successful experiments. (ANTICON) Dan LeRoy