Metaform – Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants
I almost let this record slip through my cracks but I have never been so happy to have been able to throw this on. Metaform’s “Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants” is like a delicious mix of everything you love about The Avalanches and DJ Shadow all bundled up in a clean and tight package. It is said that he has “spent five years in deep isolation from friends and family while recording the instrumental opus, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants.” You can hear the fine attention to detail on each track in the record. The album is 19 tracks of blending and combinations of many different sounds and styles that will warrant so many repeat listens.
The album starts off with two very funky 70s centric tracks “Rock It Number Nine” and “Urban Velvet.” The track “Rock It Number Nine” really sets the tone for the album as it starts off with a nice soft vocal melody and then it kicks into some light drums. “Urban Velvet” continues that same vibe with more drums and the addition of other instruments to the fray. “The Telephone” is that dark and brooding hip hop that you would find on a DJ Shadow record. This hard bass line is repeated over this strange conversation. “Heaven Can Wait” is the essence of the album with a combo of that dark style with a little added funk in the vocals. The drumming again is really superb. “Pch” is a dense and sprawling track filled with saxophones and a wah wah guitars and the occasional odd sound thrown in there for good measure.
“Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants” succeeds in many different levels. The record is a top shelf hiphop/triphop hybrid. Metaform needs to be praised for the work that was done on this record it sounds so fresh and loose. It is not quite up there with the Shadow just yet but this certainly should be on your must buy lists.
by John Siwicki
