Gonjasufi’s 2010 debut album was many things, but it was not predictable. With a stellar cast on production including LA beatsmiths Flying Lotus and Gaslamp Killer, A Sufi and A Killer was utterly scatterbrained.
Sometimes, the results were inspired, such as tracks like ‘Sheep’ or ‘Duet’; occasionally, the experiment would fall, but that was almost part of the appeal for me. If you want to make an omelet you’ve got to break some eggs.
The title of his sophomore album – MU.ZZ.LE – gives some indication of the way the Californian approached it. MU.ZZ.LE has a much more cohesive sound, generally drawing from dub and hip hop, put through Gonjasufi’s unique filter. Due to FlyLo and Gaslamp’s absence, it’s a less immediate album (Sufi is co-producer with Psychopop).
It’s more concise, though, and as soon as I stopped wondering what it would be like if someone Brainfeeder produced it and enjoyed its more subdued reach into the depths into the subconscious. ‘Blaksuit’ and ‘The Blame’ in particular have hip-hop swagger. Nikels and Dimes is anti-soul, deceptively warm in it’s twisted organ and King Tubby flourishes.
Jack Steadman
blacktarmusic 