DJ Krush
I own all of Dj krush's albums and I would agree that this is probably Krush's darkest and hardest hitting album so far. The beats he uses on this album unlike his others have a more organic jumpy feeling than his others. Is this a good thing? Well it all depends how you like your music. Like on his other cd's he has worked with a wide range of artist and singers. Also like his other cd's almost half the tracks have vocals. I myself have nothing agianst vocals on his cd's but at times here they seem to bog the beats down a little. It dosent detract from overall quality of cd thankfully. Here is a list of the songs and a brief review/overview of each.1.Trihedron- A nice dark track with an eratic beat very nice.(no vocals)
2.Toki no tabiji- kinda odd, decent beat, cool japan rap vocals.(vocals)
3.Sanity requiem- Another dark eratic beat song,shows krushs skills as a dj.(no vocals)
4.Supreme team- Big beat rap song with a dark feeling, very loud.(vocals)
5.The blackhole- very long song clocks in at 9:20, lots of fast beats and it builds up near the end.(no vocals)
6.Song for john walker- Hmmm... very strange rap song kicken beat though.(vocals)
7.D'you hear that- Starts out really sweet but it ends after 0:59. I really wish he had kept it up.(no vocals)
8.Alepheva- Nice beats and flute/guitar but the vocals totaly ruin this song.(vocals)
9.The last voices- I love this track, classic dj krush, a lot brighter than the rest of the songs on the cd.(no vocals)
10.But the world moves on- A lot like the last voices. I love this track to.(no vocals)
11.What about tomorrow- The slowest track on the cd. It has a strong reggae feel.(vocals)
All in all a very strong album for Dj krush. It should also be noted that unlike his other cd's track 7 is the only short track on the album. Total album time 60:04.
The sound of fear and despair
The soundtrack of a world filled with fear and despair is what "Message at the Depth" really is. Dj Krush comes back, this time with a concept album and an intimidating communique.
Very bombastic and certainly more effective than anything he's offered us before, Dj Krush elaborates on very complex and "big" beats without giving up on his mastery of blending ultra dark hip hop with other elements.
Particularly the first half of this album (without meaning that the rest lags) is nothing short of the most progressive music you've heard lately, especially if you're following the experimentations of the electronic scene and its protagonists.
A world that's increasingly becoming a huge clinic for paranoiacs, phobics and at the same time a place of dissidents whose voice and message gets lost in the alleys and pro-war fanatic screams deserves this soundscape.
While people look for the big names to deliver the goods (Massive Attack, for example)the goods happen to be here in this very album.
Easily one of the most important albums in a long time, great music, very creative "use" of vocalists, and stunning lyrics.
I think this is one that will be discovered slowly by many and appreciated for a long time. A gem.
Redefining the Hip in hip hop
1999's KI-OKU proved DJ Krush's musical sophistication had far more substance than the pack of acid jazz and chill out posers who were grabbing the cash and disappearing with the next flavor-of-the-month product.
"Message at the Depth" combines that musical inspiration with a burning message.
If you liked the jazz tinged tracks on KI-OKU, "The Lost Voices" (with Sly and Robbie doing a lot more than just getting name checked) and "But the World Moves On" satisfy the promise of that earlier work. "Trihedron" makes d'n'b sound as fresh as if it hadn't happened yet. The hard electronica elements on this CD give it a solid edge that holds up under repeat listens. Add articulate lyrics that aspire to inspire to something more than a party - "Alehevo(truthspeaking)" achieves that all too rare miracle of speaking hard truth without preaching - and you have a CD that holds up to repeat play like few recent releases are capable of.
Subtle, sophisticated, hard edged, powerful, and recommended.
DJ Shadow may get the press, but DJ Krush is creating a body of work that can outlast the fads.
the best album ive heard in a while
excellent combination of electronic, jazz, and hip-hop with dark musical elements. my favorite is sanity requiem, but could have done with out the john walker track.
the king od dj's underground
DJ KRUSH rules out in this wonderful compilation. The beats sinks the listener in a special and dark atmosphere. If you like Dj Shadow you will enjoy Krush.
After the gentle turns of 2001's rich and melodious Zen, DJ Krush's The Message at the Depth banks a hard corner, layering political dissent and antiwar sentiments with jumbled beats and harsh electronic scrambles. Again making expert use of guest vocalists, artists like Anti-Pop Consortium and Anticon give literal expression to Krush's dark waxwork, turning "Supreme Team" and "Song for John Walker" into overt political statements. Throughout, Krush explores a deeply pissed-off vibe, coming up for air only on the bittersweet "Alrpheua (Truthspeaking)" featuring Angelina Esparza. He finds a little peace by the end of the record, lifting the veil on playful dub rhythms for "The Lost Voices" featuring Sly & Robbie and "What About Tomorrow" featuring Abijah. In a chaotic world, Krush's eloquent anger is soothing, even when his malevolent turntables smack us in the face. --Matthew Cooke
2003 DJ Krush album is edgier than his last record Zen, with harder and deeper beats. A concept record with Krush reacting to 9/11 and interpreting a post 9/11 world. Guests this time include Anti-Pop Consortium, Sly & Robbie, Anticon, Angelica Esparsa and more. Red Ink label/Sony.
