Search - Sofa Surfers :: Encounters

Fresh air in a genre going stale..

Takis Tz. | InYourHead | 05/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When you think of Austria you're probably not thinking of hip-hop, and even if you somehow were you wouldn't be thinking "top league" hip-hop. Think again.
This album happens to easily be amongst the top hip hop albums not only of this year but of the past 5 years as well.
An explosive barrage of ultra dark beats and scratches and electronic soundscapes mixed with excellent lyrics coming rather from the...left is what is on offer here.
But, what differentiates this LP from the 100s of its musical style out there is that everything about it is intelligent and that it has a "mission" evident by the lyrics and driven home by the music.
This is the 3rd offering from this band and up to now they were little known outside of Central Europe, but with the "Encounters" they could be destined for much bigger things. Even though i do wish them that i think this album is too intelligent to propel them into the mainstream and it's cool that way too.
If you're looking for an album that's almost gothic without being gothic and bombastic without being silly, dark without treading old surface, and one that sticks to your mind upon the first listening then this is it. And hey, you can brag to your friends about a great group that few (yet) know.."