I first come across Abdominal surprisingly (well perhaps not) when checking out Do Right! Music when Elizabeth Shepherd’s new album, Besides hit the deck. A local lad from Greektown, East End Toronto, Andy Bernstein is a fit spitter very much in a high speed Busdriver mode.

Previously known as MC Abdominal, he met up with DJ Fase in 1998 and they worked as Abs & Fase. It was when one of their records got into the hand of Brighton’s DJ Format that things got busy (one to dig out is ‘Fast Food’ on the A Right Earful (Vol. 1) compilation).

Abdominal has kept in shape as he’s constantly on the go supporting groups on tours and he’s appeared in the past at Glastonbury, Leeds and Reading Festivals.

The instrumental is hard, even heavyweight but who’s the strongest. Nathaniel Pearn (aka Natural Self) of course, on the remix. Not as dark as The Broken Keys, even with Ben Lamdin on the mix desk, but it’s the one for your podcast.

And if you’re still not wet with excitment for the debut solo album Escape From The Pigeon Hole, Circle Research’s kept diggin’ deep for beats on the bonus track, ‘Satan Music’.

In addition to DJ Format and Circle Research, the album also features production by Rockabilly & Jump Blues expert Cut Chemist (from Jurassic 5, Lost & Found), Young Einstein (from Ugly Duckling), DJ Fase, DJ Serious and cuts by World DMC champion DJ Dopey!

The previous 12” was a Cut Chemist vs. Young Einstein version of ‘Pedal Pusher’. A bit late for le Tour de France but our man knows his bike heritage as he’s also done time as a two-wheel courier.

I’ll be on the treadmill tonight to get ready for the album. Whose the hardest? Natural Self of course.

P.S. And even more exciting news to follow from Toronto’s hottest collective, Nicole Willis remixed by Mr. Scruff and Elizabeth Shepherd!

Reviewed: Abdominal - Abdominal Workout EP (Antidote) Release date: September 2007
Tracklisting:
1. Abdominal Workout (Radio) (3:02)
2. Abdominal Workout (Instrumental) (3:02)
3. Abdominal Workout (Natural Self Remix) (3:25)
4. Satan Music (3:57)

Links
www.myspace.com/mcabdominal
www.dorightmusic.com
www.djformat.com
www.myspace.com/naturalself
www.nostalgia77.com
www.myspace.com/nostalgia77