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This new album is 2 years on from their debut Mindstate and shows a totally different approach to Cadence Weapon, who has also released two albums over the same time span. The sound of Producer Perquisite and Pete Philly is more of a live version using the heritage of Droppin’ Science with smooth a mix of rap, soul and funk.

Based in Amsterdam, they have toured all over Europe, Scandinavia and even got to Cape Town and Los Angeles appearing at festivals with Kanye West and James Brown. Perhaps, unsurprisingly then, ‘The Traveller’ is one of the highlights of the album. It’s certainly the most ‘world’ of all the tracks with Spanish guitar intro and vocals by Erminia Fernández Córdoba. However, it’s those jazzy (blue note) horns that steel it. Like ‘Beliver’, based on a quote from Nelson Mandela “We are all meant to shine, as children do”, this track shines the most with some impressive sax by Remco Keijzer.

That said there’s an admirable variety to the album, sometimes sounding like Jamiroquai, sometimes like a one man De La Soul. We shouldn’t be surprised that this is so well done as Perquisite (aka Pieter Perquin) has a classical training (playing the cello since he was eight) and programming beats since 1996 (at the age of 14) on Fasttracker (anyone remember that one?)

Pete Philly (aka Pieter Monzón) has a reputation of one of the most imaginative rappers in Holland and he’s been working with Perquisite now for over 5 years.

I suppose ‘Hectic’ should be my favourite but there’s lots to admire here and it’s one of those albums that grows on you; and another not the judge the contents by the cover.

Reviewed: Pete Philly & Perquisite — Mystery Repeats (Anti-) Cat. No.. Unexpectedc Records/Anti- 6885-2 Release date: 18th February 2008
Tracklisting:
1 Clap Kick Flow (1:42) — Sven Woodside (Banjo), Remco Keijzer (Saxophone), Robbert Scherpenisse (Trumpet)
2 Womb To Tomb (3:17)
3 Fish To Fry (4:16)
4 Hectic (1:12)
5 Q&A (3:43)
6 Believer (4:57) — Jesse van Ruller (Guitar), Remco Keijzer (Saxophone)
7 Awake (4:43)
8 Traveller (6:06) — Robbert Scherpenisse (Flugelhorn), Ricardo Riviera (Guitar), Remco Keijzer (Saxophone), Robbert Scherpenisse (Trumpet), Erminia Fernández Córdoba (Vocals)
9 Last Love Song (3:56) — Tjeerd Bomhof (Accordion), Sven Woodside (Guitar)
10 Freestyle (1:49)
11 Third Degree (4:04) — Remco Keijzer (Flute)
12 Balance (4:06)
13 Empire (5:10)
14 High Tide (2:57)
15 Mystery Repeats (2:46)
16 Time Flies (4:20

Links:
News from Pete Philly & Perquisite @ www.ourmindstate.com
www.myspace.com/petephillyandperquisite
www.anti.com
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete Philly & Perquisite
Erminia Fernández Córdoba