Up Above Records came to light in the mid 1990s and Carving A New Standard is a collection of brand new tracks, b-side rarities and a few old album classics.

LMNO sets the tone on the introductions while the two tracks that standout in the first half of the album are ‘War’ and ‘I Don’t Think So’. Both prove a hip hop track is a relevant, conscious political voice when it needs to be.

For fans of the twisted underground from the big band era (also see Daedelus, Mystikal, Disco Fuentes) the BIG track is ‘Southern Lady’ by Lone Catalysts’ J-Sands (previously on Hip Hop Love Soul outta Fat City!) This track marks a start of a purple patch with tracks by/featuring/produced by Roddy Rod, Cy Young , Kev Brown, Supernatural, Marco Polo (new album coming out on Rawkus soon!), Declaime, Madlib, J-Rocc (anyone got a tracklisting for his Keepintime mixtape?)

LIke ‘Southern Lady’, ‘Picture This’ is the soulful jazzy end of the underground hip hop but I’ve never been keen on the helium vocal that’s on ‘Tears’. While Gym Class Hereos might get away with a Supertramp break, I’d draw the line on the sax solo of ‘Careless Whisper’ that I can’t ‘Love It To Death’ (er.. is that the joke?)

And before MF Doom wasn’t underground, remember him on the DJ Nu-mark project Blend Crafters with the big track ‘Melody’? And if you’re after international superstars, Beenie Man turns up on the dancehall tinged ‘International’ by Chali 2na/DJ Babu (but not as hard as Mums The Word’s ‘Star Fi De Show’ which I’ve now worn out and generally mistreated).

While talking of Fly favourites, the album ends on another high with Kev Brown (he of ‘When I Call’ remix) on a downtempo soulful beat of ‘Life’s A Gamble’.

Up Above Records took a gamble and it’s paid off. They excel in finding talent and look to make great records first, commercial success may follow but that’s not their primary goal. This first edition of Carving A New Standard is surely one of many to follow and it’s an excellent introduction to the label.

Hectic Mix nominations: Southern Lady, Picture This, Blindsided, Life’s A Gamble (Remix)

Reviewed: Various - Up Above Records Presents “Carving A New Standard” Volume 1 (Up Above Records) Cat. No UPA 1018-2 Release date: 18th April
Tracklisting:
1 LMNO — Carving A New Standard (2:26)
2 Prince Po — I Got A Right To Know (3:08) featuring — Chaz West featuring Large Professor
3 GZA & DJ Muggs Destruction Of A Guard (3:42) producer DJ Muggs featuring Raekwon
4 Visionaries — War (5:47) producer Keykool
5 RBX — Free (2:50) producer LD
6 Kam — I Don’t Think So (3:32) producer Focus featuring Tracy Lane
7 LMNO — Richochet (2:36) producer LD
8 Songodsuns Breath Of A Salesman (4:03) producer Life Rexall featuring Jean Grae
9 J-Sands — Southern Lady (3:44) producer L.F Daze
10 Roddy Rod Trouble Lurkin’ Low (3:24) featuring Cy Young & Kev Brown
11 Supernatural — Not That Way (3:05) producer Marco Polo
12 Declaime Enjoy Your Stay (3:52) producer Madlib
13 Self Scientific — Tears (3:13) producer DJ Khilil
14 Grouch & Eligh — Picture This (3:26) producer J-Rocc
15 Sleep — Love It To Death (4:21) producer Smoke & Zebulon Dak featuring Yadira Brown
16 Look Daggers — Before You Say No (4:14) producer 2Mex / Ikey Owens (of Mars Volta)
17 Writers Block — Holiday (2:21) producer Omid
18 Chali 2na — International (2:50) producer DJ Babu featuring Beenie Man
19 Blend Crafters — Melody (Remix) (2:56) producer DJ Nu-mark featuring MF Doom
20 Kozmonautz — Blindsided (3:22) producer Pete Rock faturing LMNO
21 Kev Brown — Life’s A Gamble (Remix) (4:50) featuring Kaimbr

Links:
www.upabove.com