SCAR - The Orkyd Project Album

Renegade Kicks sounds like it has samples from "Hold Tight - 9 2 5" ( https://youtu.be/h2RcAzFbpio?t=258 )

I first got a whisper about this album back in February and have been waiting for this release with great anticipation. Survival and Script have produced some fantastic releases over the last few years; on Horizons and Dispatch as well as solid contributions to METHXX, Platinum, Razors Edge and the main Metalheadz label with last years Caged EP (META031) and now finally a decent sized album outing. And believe me, after hearing this album I really hope more of their material is showcased on the main label. It's definitely where they belong.

When I first heard this album I was initially disappointed. I bought the sampler at the same time and spun that first. I thought, yeah ok, I get it, but nothing to write home about, you know? Again with the two plate vinyl album - good but nothing special. But as with all great albums, it's only after you've heard the entire thing a good few times, that you really start to get it. After hearing this album a lot in my car the last couple of weeks and on the decks, I can honestly say that this is the best release imho that has been released on Metalheadz this year (So far). And there have been some great albums already released, with Wilderness, Timeline etc, so this effort from Scar has a lot of competition, and the usual high standards of the label to uphold.

Each track provides the listener with something different. The influences are many and varied. According to the pre release news they include Massive Attack, Bill Withers, Eric B and Rakim (I'm pretty sure there's a bit of Mary J Blige in there as well eh Naomi? x). The scope is wide, poles apart sometimes, but somehow it all works. Naomi Pryor, as well as contributions from both Ray Uptown and Eleanor Higgins cover the vocals throughout the album. Real quality from all three.

Starting with the sampler, I'm Gone really lets Naomi show how much power and soul she has. the musical influence is there, obvious if you know the song, but I won't spoil it. A great opener. The flip is a drums VIP version of Yours. Again a seriously nice piece of work. You really get to see how wide and how deep the production is - this is not just a slapdash, thrown together recording - real thought, intelligence and engineering competence has gone into the creation of this album.

Plate 1 has three stunning tracks. If You Knew rolls along, again with nice vocal samples, loads of drums and nice rolling beats and plenty going on to keep you interested. The flip side with Omnipresent and Renegade Kicks are probably my two favourite tracks on the album. Omnipresent is a foray over to the dark side, but all the elements come together to give the listener a really original take on it. The eerie vocal snip, with some kind flute with an echo really compliments the hard bass beneath. Renegade Kicks is a real heavyweight basshead's favourite. Loads of off beat kick, keyboards, and it even sounds like 12 string guitar. This track is a prime candidate for a more dancy remix. You'll see what I mean after the second breakdown. A Jubei remix, or even Scar remixing the track themselves (like Foul Play back in the day) would make the track more accessible to the mainstream. There's warmth and depth here, as well as darkness. 'Magical things are going to happen - All of your wildest dreams are about to come true'.

Business as usual with plate 2. Fractions is another great track. Deep, layered and exquisitely produced. On the flip is a vinyl mix of Feel for You, with Naomi excelling again on the vocal front. The two tracks on this side are so very different. Mellow and full of real soul, Feel For You really illustrates how important the choice of vocalist is to this type of music. A knowledge of how tracks roll and change is essential, and capturing that chemistry between vocalist and producer is really difficult. But Scar and Naomi completely nail it. The vinyl release is rounded out by For a While. Another final trip to the dark side but again, really well done. Trademark Scar with that tearing bass underneath. A banging track to round out the album.

This album is littered with real quality tracks, not the usual throw away D & B, of which there is lot of about these days; but tracks of real substance. There are 16 tracks on the CD and digital release, but I have concentrated on the vinyl and the sampler. I had a feeling this album was going to be good, but it is even better than I thought it was going to be. I think this is an album that in ten years from now, you'll not be able to say that it sounds dated. It really is so different and really difficult to pigeonhole, but I guess that's the point. You can't say this just a D & B album. It's so much more. A truly exceptional release.