The eclectic as ever Northern Structure Records have returned with their latest offering to the world of hip hop in the form of ‘Standard Procedure’, courtesy of emcee duo 2 Complex (Evileyz, Spider Jaroo) and producer Bambu Hands.
The 12 track album takes the listener back to those early, hazy days of what was to become a formidable force in the northern hip hop scene. Before the formation of Northern Structure, 2 rappers hailing from the sandy, alcohol and drug infused coasts of Blackpool took it upon themselves to come together and create an EP that would change the course of everything they ever knew.
During that time, various local performances would lead the two spitters to come across a man known then as ‘Faceless’ who would later become Bambu Hands. 2 Complex instantly took to the lancastrian’s (A person from Lancaster) soul laced production and along with the appearance of the enigmatic Amos and beat box crew ‘The Masses’, Northern Structure Records was born.
Fast forward eight years and artists have come and gone but the core figures still remain. Now they find themselves releasing a project that sat in a dusty attic galvanizing and maturing over a time period that reflects the nature of the production and vocals throughout the album.
Everyone who follows the site regularly knows I’m a massive of turntabilsm and the joint ‘Salted P-nuts’ is the album’s introduction to NSR turntable mentalist DJ P-Nuts who also performed the cuts on last year’s ‘Live From The Archive Vol 1’. With DMC and various other major DJ comp honours under his belt, it isn’t difficult to see why his technical cutting abilities over the album’s three instrumentals are a definite highlight.
‘The Vibe’ is another favourite, I was definitely vibing to the head nodding beat from Bambu Hands, dope cuts and Spider and Evileyz lace the joint whith a relaxed flow.
There really isn’t a weak joint on this album, even the instrumentals keep you locked in with DJ P-Nuts skills on the wheels of Steel, coupled with Spider Jaroo and Evileyz lyrical skills it’s easy to see why Northern Structure Records have become a respected label within the UK and why we are fans of what they do here at HHLAT. ‘Standard Procedure’ is an example of how an album can be expertly engineered over the course of a long period of time and still sound as relevant as it did on the day of it’s creation.
I’ve been sitting on this gem from the Northern Structure Records family until I had the time to give it my full attention. This morning was that day and this has soon brightened up what was looking like being a bad day!
You can get the DOPE ‘Standard Procedure’ album digitally here
on CD https://northernstructure.bandcamp.com/album/standard-procedure-2
Video for the single “Numb” feat Amos
Bandcamp – http://northernstructure.bandcamp.com
Facebook – http://facebook.com/northernstructurerecords
Twitter – http://twitter.com/nsrallday
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