The world of leftfield hip-hop neofolk is the realm of this 2econd Class Citizen and a world without his debut album A World Without would be a very second rate planet to be on indeed.
We’ve been following the 2econd Class Citizen (aka Aaron Thomason) for a few years now (with the EPs Wyred Folk and this years’ One By One and Step Inside Remixes) but its with this album that all his countless hours with the sampler, fulfil his musical promise.
And once you pay your money and step inside to the show ground of 2CC’s psych folk-rock cinematic sample hip-hop you realise what a talent he is. Now the tracks are put together as an album, there’s a real flow that’s reminiscent of DJ Shadow vs. Tunng at their respective best.
With guest vocals limited to just Ceschi (who’s on the Equinox Tour European tour this month with 2Mex, DJ Scientist and Playpad Circus) and Reindeer (aka jamesreindeer) and it’s the Ceschi track, ‘New Day’ that’s a real highlight as the emphasis shifts from acoustic guitar to folky violin.
The dark melancholy of ‘On Emptyness’ (that’s like an acoustic King Cannibal – check out Light The Night Roar), ‘Our Lady Of Solitude’ and ‘The Day You’re Lost Or Found’ which isn’t what you’d really want for breakfast listening. Or ‘Listen The Night’ that gets back into the dark recesses of Pink Floyd’s Romanian roots as we build up to the big climax of the Cinematic Orchestra-esque title track ‘A World Without’.
There’s a limited offer of a free t-shirt from the label’s web site (see links below) and there’s a free 10 minutes download mix as a taster. No tour details as yet but he’s previously appeared live supporting ‘potheads’ Gong (who were excellent at the Big Chill this year) at one extreme and Ugly Duckling at the other. And keep your ears open for a 2econd Class Citizen guest mix on Ninja Tunes’ Solid Steel radio show and get the album.
It’s been growing this one over the past couple of months so time to give it go as the antidote to the big party season; if we did Album Of The Year lists, A World Without would definitely be on it for it’s psych-folk influences alone – a world without indeed!
Reviewed: 2econd Class Citizen – A World Without (Equinox) Cat. No. eqx-019 Release date: 23rd October 2009.
Tracklisting:
1. Step Inside (2:40)
2. One By One (4:56)
3. A New Day (5:00)
4. Wait For Me (2:02)
5. On Emptyness (8:34)
6. Our Lady Of Solitude (3:06)
7. The Day You’re Lost Or Found (4:28)
8. Listen The Night (5:19)
9. From Where I Belong (2:58)
10. A World Without {9:01)
Links:
www.2econdclasscitizen.co.uk
www.myspace.com/2econdclasscitizen
www.myspace.com/ceschiramos
www.anonymousinc.com
www.whomcom.com
www.e-q-x.net (10 minute mix download HERE)
“One By One” by 2econd Class Citizen on The British Breakfast on WRIR 97.3FM Richmond,
Virginia USA and streamed live every Saturday between 9-11AMEST / 2-4PM UK on www.wrir.org
