Ssaliva - RZA EP

RZA makes for fantastic headphone listening - it's hypnagogic, dark, and excellent. It is true that 'Black Soul' is black soul - not in a racial sense but rather in a sonic one. A mangled soul sample fades from left ear to right, from conscious to unconscious, and elucidates the minimal and repetitive palette of an Actress tune. 'Trimensional' delves into other territory, combining kosmische musik (particularly that of Michael Bundt, with its spacey arpeggiators) and the lo-fi textures and timbres of Hype Williams - everything is covered in a grey, blunted haze. The theme continues through to 'Hobo 4030', which takes on more of a hip-hop flavour with a set of relatively clean synths and bouncing beat, and 'RZA', a meandering piano and, yes, RZA indebted chimes. Great listening!