Doorstop EP
label: lumin

producers: lumin, rev.al, kaeoflux
guests: noah23
year of release: 2002
contact: lumin@mail2hiphop.com
 
You can argue that message boards are crap. However true that is, to some extend this record grew on the soil a message board provided. The place of operation was the Ozone Music board at first, and then the phoenix lounge on the Def Jux message board. That's where Lumin (or aka what I call him: Kiwi) met Rev. Al, and where he met KaeoFLUX and, well, me. I mention these names, because Al and Kaeo contributed a beat each to this five track ep. But the community is bigger than these luminaries (ha), like there's the dolly wha wha's and the seventh heaven and more phoenixes. Hence the connections reach far and that's why in this micro cosmos the message board isn't just crap.
Lumin's outta Miami, but his music is not promoting the Bacardi feeling. Instead he's to some extent troubled. His rhymes at least pace through a lot of words and brackets of meaning that sound haunted. The parallel thoughts are expressed on "Dreadnaught" and "Lukewarm Fleshpot", both utilizing a self produced beat. The first one is matching the paranoia, while the second is more content in style, while not necessarily in reality. The poetry is not too easy to follow, despite the words being spoken or rapped clearly, and the flow crafted enough to make Lumin sound comfortable while speaking.

tracklisting
1. Dreadnaught
2. Lukewarm Fleshpot
3. Abrupt Halt (Rev.Al Remix)
4. Soylent Brown feat. Noah23
5. Rotor
The cut "Abrupt Halt (Rev.Al Remix)" is using a beat Rev.Al beat made available to us phoenix lounge members some time ago. The beat however is benefiting from the added lyrics. That don't necessarily adapt to the music though, as they continue in an offbeat style, ignoring the strings and piano. "Soylent Brown" then teams up Kiwi with Noah23 over a KaeoFLUX beat. And he gets spacey, while still earth bound. The words are slowed down and rapped with only half open eyes. Lyrically we get a strange while typical mixture of not braggadocios verses, but rhymes that intend to say something new and clever enough for people to acknowledge them. At the same time however, they are still very poetic and fit into stylistic demands.
Finally there's the again self produced "Rotor", where Lumin matches the previously open-end Kaeo vibe. You don't know if Kiwi is a better producer or rapper. His music is certainly easier to submit to, while the lyrics seem to be driven by personal meaning, and personal negotiating. Because they know that things are never as good as they seem, if they were very good from the beginning.
What also means that Lumin can't be expected to do his materpiece with his first solo record. However it's also your shortcoming when you miss some of the words, and the evitable meaning, and not just his, as he puts 'em on display in his most eloquent wrapping.
review: tadah
Note: Well, you probably think this got a buddy bonus. But the music proves you wrong and this rating right.
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