Prefuse 73 Album: “One Word Extinguisher”

Regardless of what people are saying, this album can't be catergorized in any genre besides the vague and anomalous term "progressive music." I say that with full confidence that, even with the guest MCs and beat manipulation, one cannot consider this solely an instrumental, electronic hip hop album. There is simply too much going on, a musical overload across every frequency, music so coordinated and organized that it is even stifling. Going from any genre to this album (jazz, classical, even independent) is like shooting for the moon yet ending up in Mars, yet a comfortable and enjoyable trip.

An important distinction to make about One Word Extinguisher is the fact that it is a complete disc. Although certain individual tracks are astonishing, only a few of them take on song form due to the rapid changes mid-track. The listener is forced to sit and absorbe the entire record, not just for the beats but for the samples. Thus, after listening to this CD, there are very few things you'll actually remember about it because you have heard so much. Do you remember the upbeat and great cooperation on "Plastic," the fantastic song that is the title track, or do you remember the final sample on "90% Of My Mind is With You"? That is entirely up to the listener, and therefore the major reason this disc is so successful: Herren's work outshines his purpose.

To sum it up, the ingenius musicality present on this album makes it one of the albums of the year, bar none.

If there is something that proves hip hop can be a limitless, utterly compelling thing, this is it. Every bit as nuanced and produced as IDM electronic music, this takes pure hip hop elements, and filters them down through relentless breakbeats, and lovely electo textures. Attacking straight out of the box with the jazzed out turntablism of "The End of Biters- International" then segwaying into the contemporary hip hop of "Plastic", this more than any thing out there shows the heights this music can be taken to, and that's further than the eye can see. The utter attention to detail can not only be admired, but enjoyed thoroughly. This keeps the entire record well within the lines of excellence, making it a real treat for anyone who loves the feel of either music (ie: hip hop, electronic). Prefuse 73 has an utterly excellent musical proposal that will probably keep him away from mainstream acceptance, but virtually guarantees his ascension to greatness in both the hip hop, and electronic undergrounds, if he isn't there already.

Prefuse's best album to date. A mesmerizing assortment of glitchy, rap and IDM infused, breakbeats.

I got home just about an hour ago after seeing Prefuse 73 (along w/ Beans, ex-member of the disbanded A.P.C.) at a live CD release party, and I am reeling from the experience. The music is perhaps more 'glitchy' sounding than "Studies," but that is not a problem for me. Exciting and invigorating. If you enjoy sampled and highly-processed hip-hop, then you will probably greatly enjoy this album. As an aside, it was so nice to finally see some Warp artists in my home town: perhaps one of these days I'll be able to see Aphex Twin or Squarepusher without having to go overseas or across the country. Anyway, I had a blast at the release party, and the music was so amazing that I just have to tell somebody about it.

Prefuse is by far one of the most interesting and best techno/IDM artists to pop out with in the last decade. Which is amusing because he really doesn't fit into either of those catagories despite being lumped with them. Instead, Scott Herren(the sole member of Prefuse) is one man DJ/Producer who seems like he's just as at home making beats for the next Kool Keith record as he would be colaberating for Autechre or any other "hardcore" techno artist. That right there is what helps elevate Prefuse beyond his peers: he does a perfect balancing act of invention and accessibility.

His album is set up almost like a Boards of Canada record. 21(listed tracks. They're are 23 in total) songs are scattered between short "songletts" to full-scale songs(which are relatively short compared to even BoC standards, much less Autechre's). It works because the shorter songs or sometime skits that are less developed and more transitional are left to pull you right into the full scale songs. The better news is that even some of the shorter tracks still sound awesome, like the coming out the front door screaming track, The End of Biters that basically kicks off the album. From their the album moves from glitchy hip hop(forementioned song, Plastic), to subtle ambience(Diatribe is a good , to weird beat patterns and vocal samples(the end of Altoid Addiction has some amusing banter if you use some imagination). All of this is mixed in with pride and panche for a solid hour of some of the most unique music you will here this year. If there is one complaint is that I wish there were more vocal tracks to balance everything out but its still so damn solid that to give this record anything less then 5 stars would be criminal. Could easily be the best of 2003(which would knock out current front runner Deftones easily).