producers: triangulum productions, god war.

There's not much need to go into an introduction paragraph, especially as there are 23 entities on "Paraphernalia" to be talked about. And Triangulum Productions doesn't allow us an intro as well. And so "My Path" opens with cluster structures, that definitely belong to North Cali, with the walking words then taking us to "Relentless Beat". In a way, this is rather 'gangsta', as a RBL, JT, Dru or a 3x could have picked something like this. The track centers around the chorus and instrumental part for much of it, and then finishes quickly, again keeping the track short. The "Weight (Interlude)" is a mocking phone call, while the Ghost War produced "The Meaning" is keeping the sounds in the neighborhood, with the piano just being beautiful. "All these humans must be good for something" is a deep realization, and their search for meaning behind what is hard to accept, shows a mental maturity, rarely accomplished once there is demand for it. This track is quality.

On "Chaos Riff (Interlude)" Pilot Rase strikes his guitar once and we are already listening to the Dr. Who inspired "Snakebite", again produced by God War, and again cool. The next interlude ("Warp Zone") is already onto us and bathing us like a waterfall. What has us approach "Secret Room" feat. Lucky Locs refreshed, and we just need to get some of the water of our ears, as the mixing is rather challenging on this, with especially one voice being burred within the track. "Dart" opens with a clearer drum and small sparkling bells that take the front as opposed to the voices, one of them being by Sgt. Crackadome. The words are flying toward the dart board and seem to circle the center with a flow that is putting the words together like links in a chain. And the words capture descriptions of actions, that seem to be imposed by their fantasies, and hard to follow in a linear thought progression.

Another interlude, this time a "Growl" by a dijeridoo is taking us to "Follow Assume", that is a self reflection at times, combined with siren like guitar sounds. Now we welcome more guest on "Throw Aways", that features Young Joseph and Pilot Rase. This track elevates itself from the grit level, it separating itself with lyrics intending to live up to what they are claiming. Those modem sounds then are hard on "The Connection (Robot)" and with "Foundation Freestyle", paper is crumbled up, showing that these verses have not been written down. We are then led to "Something Diff", that once more does not try to hide the North Cali background. Quite self confirming, the lyrics talk about boosting the courage and confidence in the emcees. The sounds are furthered on the quick "Interlude", that's pretty much a spacey growling. Hectic and giving us an insane feel, "Dark, Dim, Hazey", is built upon a clicking drum and few other sounds, that suddenly stumble with the monographic words.

Once more an interlude is transporting us from a to b, with the sounds of "Light Trance" being especially magical. Scratching is allowed to take up chunks of the track on "What Was Given" feat. Imperial 1, who rhymes over a low hum, that with the exception of the short verse, is kept instrumental. "Consumers" are wrapped up next and "We The People" feat. Pilot Rase is taking grip of the mic, to have the emcees address the listener. We are listening to the people, like we are a therapist, and try to catch all that the emcee's heart pours out. "Heavenly Harps" push us forward to the cool "Survive", that's built on top of the guitars played by Rase. And this last track sounds like the comforting light at the end of the tunnel for every musician that gets too much drawn into the creation of his art, now being let go, after the tight grip imposed on him for the time being.

Yes, we are likely to forget about the levels of options to create something, some people have. Being so used to the funkiest recording quality, by the most underground head, we are often misunderstanding the 4 / 8 track aesthetic heard on this CD. However, this style seems to have a respected place in the west coast life. And as this also features a North Cali aesthetic in the way it sounds, it provides a possibility to catch a glimpse of how things are done over there. What of course and at the same time, makes it the pick of choice in its homeland.