Posted on 09/04/2008
When British duo, Dan le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip began making waves in the U.K. underground with their debut single, “Thou Shalt Always Kill,” fans would certainly have been justified in writing them off as a one-hit-wonder in the making. Though undeniably hypnotic, the record, basically a two-thirds angsty, one-third zany spoken rant over a tense industrial beat, had “novelty” written all over it. Of course so did “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” and the British blokes behind that fluffy little confection did okay for themselves on subsequent releases. Likewise, producer, le Sac and vocalist, Pip have used their gimmicky single as the entry point for a meticulously crafted and fiercely imaginative debut album.

An aural melting pot of electronica, alt rock and hip-hop, Angles is the type of dark ride best taken alone, at night, through a pair of quality headphones. Le Sac’s drums throb, often in slightly off-kilter, double time patterns, while the ambient keys and moody guitars slide seamlessly in and out of the mix. The sonic tension provides a perfect backdrop for Pip’s ruminations on the human condition. Despite his self proclaimed MC status, Pip doesn’t so much rap as engage in a tug of war with the dense tracks, grappling to squeeze his thoughts into open spaces that seem to be closing in on him with each beat. It will probably take a few spins for listeners to truly decipher the lyrics, but the investment is well worth it, as Pip delivers some truly compelling content.

On “Letter From God To Man,” Pip assumes the voice of God, humbled and angry, as he laments the shortcomings of humanity, and the state to which his most elaborate creation has brought his earth. “Angles” uses narratives from four characters to piece together the convergence of circumstances that leads to a tragic ending. Pip even walks us, in vivid detail through an allegorical lucid dream on the album’s masterful closer, “Waiting For The Beat To Kick In.”

Those looking for a traditionally musical experience may be a bit put off by the lack of hummable melodies, or for that matter, conventional rapping or singing. But taken purely as a cerebral sonic adventure, this album truly covers all the angles, and stands as one of the year’s more daring releases.

- Jeff Harvey