Audience's Listening

West Coast turntable whiz Cut Chemist has established himself as one of hip-hop's most esteemed mixmasters. Having cut and scratched on sides for underground rappers Jurassic 5, Chemist's nod to the classic mixtape approach of artists like Kid Capri and Steinski is evident on his own THE AUDIENCE IS LISTENING. Taking off from the classic turntablist trope of DJ-mix as journey, the album is an entertaining--if at times attention-deficit-addled--romp through hundreds of sound bites and stylistic cues.
Using samples, which are then scratched or beat juggled to create rhythms, Cut Chemist displays virtuoso turntable chops and a keen ear for confounding, yet humorous juxtapositions. While much of the album imagines a musical universe where the only instruments left are turntables, the track "The Garden" takes a more song-based approach. Combing a Brazilian percussion loop with lush orchestral strings, Astrud Gilberto's lilting vocals cap off this heady pop mash-up--a combination that will appeal to the lounge set and crate diggers alike.