guests: dj maj, freddie bruno

You better write ill harmonics like that, or they probably don't think that you are talking about them. After there was already the "An Octave Above The Original, Pt.1" album, they are returning with their second, that is said to be more stylistically diverse than ever before. And the name of the program is "Take Two", like that bonbon here in Switzerland and Germany ('Nimm2'). The harmonics are opening their album with the title track "Take Two (Call Me In The Morning)". And with this cut things start very nicely, as the beat (that is produced like every track on here by Blake Knight) is getting us instantly grooving, due to an irresistible guitar, that makes it easy for Blake Knight and Playdough to sound good. And to the unbiased ear, they sound rather old school. This impression might however only be due to this careless happy vibe, that is so undeniable on this cut.

Moving on we get "The Crowd Is Standing" that features DJ Maj, and as we get another guitar, we gotta start to wonder if there might be some live instruments in the mix. There's a deepness to the instrumentation here, that features very nifty details, to round out another cool track. Things then change into a more Latin flavor on "San Jose". The instruments are once more played very well, and we really enjoy the melody and the marching drum in the back. But the break when the cats start to rhyme, is taking away much of the charm. And you want to sit somewhere where it's warm when this is played. Heck you actually don't even want the rhyming, but rather a pina collada and a view. But I guess we gotta accept what we are given, and we are getting another cut where the emcees are speaking good time verses, what might exactly be the medicine that is right for us this moment. The vibe then definitely gets more 'hip hop' with the beat on "Bowtie Jerks", where we are listening to a how to attract this one dime story. The beat is rolling, the lyrics are easy to relate to, hence after four minutes we are once more left behind pleased.

The jazzy and definitely live played "Interen Luden" is not signifying a change of things, and "Must Be Crazy" is still complex musically, with Blake Knight deserving a lot of props for the way he puts together all the instruments. What we have to mention though, is that the instruments do sound a little too live on here though, and the sung chorus is also rather too crooning. Lyrically we are listening to words that are directly addressing various issues, that are all centering around things that are important to the ones speaking. We then return to a Latin flavor on "Destiny", that however struggles to sound right with the guidelines hip hop usually has to cater to. What can also be said about "Cats Like These", that would sound better and right if kept instrumental, but is somewhat taken out of context with the lyrics that are added to it. And on "What We Do", the instruments are eventually taking over, what we have a harder time to back up with no criticism.

However already on "Hi-Fidelity" we are returning to a more narrow approach, and we have to admit to our own shame that we are enjoying this more. There's however still a guitar on here, as there is Freddie Bruno on here, who's joining our two heroes to do some more straight flowing. The album then enters spiritual waters with "Mr. Chris T. Ian", an obvious play on 'Christian'. However we are not getting a blatant getting across their own opinions and sermons, but we are listening to the two discussing one character, and the way he approaches the topic at hand. The album is then finished with an live played version of "The Crowd Is Standing". What leaves us with the question: why even try to do something like this? Especially as ill harmonics has proven several times, that they are rather spoiling the whole impression when they are straying afar.

But that might only be this reviewers humble opinion, and I'm lacking to get something here. The thing still is that ill harmonics are doing a lot very well, Blake is impressing us with the depth his beats possess, and lyrically we are getting two cats that are comfortable behind the mic, that make the best out of their unflashy flows, and they are keeping things in easy to enjoy chapters. What then in total makes this record good, and that's a comfortable good, with the great only not being achieved due to the reasons mentioned.