Once11: Once11 Vesus The Pyramid

Questionable scatological references aside (titles like "Wet Paris High Heels and Dog Shit", and "Shapeshitter") Once11 has devised a satisfying treat of dubbed out downtempo grooves. The melodic arrangements and instrumentations are lush, providing a smokers delight of a soundtrack for those hazy evenings. Dubby basslines, a plethora of tripped out sound effects and beats that echo around zero gravity soundscapes hallmark the album, exemplified by "Wet Paris High Heels...". "Panama Cell" displays a thick, layered reggae sensibility, with heavily filtered samples emerging through the cloud of low-end fumes. Other tracks follow suit, sounding like they have come from an imagination slightly removed from reality. Atmospherics take over and are occasionally punctured by sounds of the outside world, such as the motorbike engine of "Zoomtown Zietlupiges". What remains constant throughout is the head-nodding rhythmic lexicon always translated through a heavy groove, and a wink of the eye, manifested in such song titles as "Evolutionized Forms of Americans". This cheeky perspective is probably derived form the fact that Once11 relocated to the fun and sun soaked environs of Barcelona after a long stint in Brooklyn NY. Once11 Versus The Pyramid is an excellent choice for any purveyors of left-of-center dub and downtempo.

Courtesy of BPM Magazine/ DJMixed.com