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Hang on, Sister Sledge would never get a line in about growing a cactus on your shoulder (!?) but while that sounds a little on the weird side, the track itself isn’t at all. It’s all about havin’ a party with like-minded folk. In addition to Mr. Tubbs, on fine form as ever, there’s fellow Keepin’ Me favourites Sandra Kurweil and RQM Coppa, L’enfant Terrible (aka Vera Böhnisch), Cee and Stereotyp himself.

Once all the relatives have gone home, the voice of Al Haca is now mainly RQM (he of Jahcoozi) but if you get him on his own, it’s not all about having a good time as much of this mini-album has quite dark side, that sort of darkness that not even the neighbours know about.

On ‘Earth’ it sounds like these guys have spent too much time in the mud at Glastonbury with some bad acid, druggy poetry to an hip hop beat. Mesmerising at times it’s a track you come back to, “You know what I’m talkin’ about?” No idea mate, but I love the track.

Just what are these guys on about? ‘Citrus’ is similar and as dreamy as ‘Earth’ concentrating on a message of citrus fruit goodness; mandarins and tangerines get the top billing. Five fruits a day with a touch of Syd Barrett to a subtle reggae groove; just a lemon and lime short of the full fruit basket.

It’s not all dark or fruity. ‘Banana Split’ has that Stereotyp ragga vibe to it but the ‘banana’ humour is a slip up for me compared to say the ‘Baby Blue’ theme in the jungle of the dungeons.

The set finishes on a couple of high notes with a jazzy tribal beat of ‘Dial Zero’ and the last track that features Cesar Simpson (as in ‘Open’ by our man in Vienna, Megablast).

Since being ‘found’ by Rockers Hi-Fi, which resulted in the release of ‘Killa’, Al-Haca is sought after for dub remixes from the likes of Die Ärzte ‘Rock’n’Roll-Übermensch’ to the more obvious remix of Mahlon Stewart’s ‘Dem Girls’. And watch for Al Haca mixes for the Art vs. Bass multi-media exhibitions and Queen of Dubstep Mary Ann Hobbs is a fan; check the Breezeblock mix (download here).

This ‘Family Business’ comes on a rather sweet 7” on Traktor for a full gathering of the clans with the download on Finetunes, iTunes, djtunes and all the rest of them.

There are elements on Family Business of the mighty partnership of Al-Haca meets Stereotyp, (‘Blaze n Cook’ was not the only standout track; raid your local record store if you’ve still not got those 12”s) but this is the next stage in the story. The title track on Family Business can definitely be played out, along with ‘Banana Split’ (OK, it’s a grower). The rest probably more for a headphone session (with/out any stimulants) but don’t delay, get down(loading) them all.

Hectic Mix nominations: ‘Family Business’, ‘Banana Split’ (OK, its a grower), but all good.

Reviewed: Al Haca — ‘Family Business’ (Traktor Records) Release date: July 2007
1. ‘Family Buisness’ feat. RQM, Coppa, Sandra Kurzweil, Hubert Tubbs, L’enfant Terrible, Cee & Stereotyp (4:25)
2. Banana Split feat RQM, Coppa, FEFE (5:09)
3. Baby Blue feat. RQM, Oliver Grimball (4:24)
4. Earth feat. RQM (3:37)
5. Citrus feat. RQM, Oliver Grimball (4:39)
6. Dial Zero feat. feat. RQM, Coppa, Sandra Kurzweil, Hubert Tubbs, Patrizia Ferrara (4:25)
7. Cryptonite feat. RQM & Cesar Sampson (4:48)

Links:
www.al-haca.de
www.myspace.com/alhaca
www.soulseduction.com/B180333
www.metapolyp.de
Stereotyp Meets Al’Haca — Family Business on butterfliesandbunnyrabbits.com