Journeyman – National Hijinx

from a time before DJ Shadow took everyone on a journey through beats and textures, this double album brings a 'film score' feel from the moment the needle hits the vinyl. Four sides later, you are not sure where you've been, but you've seen things and experienced mood changes that should keep your therapist busy for years. A great work

I it: I like Journeyman's second album, NATIONAL HIJINX, even more than his first. Here, there's a more sonically dense mix, as well as more brooding. The strings and guitars on "National Hijinx" sound almost mournful at times, and that's well before the percussion clatters in. The drum'n'bass that introduce "National Hijinx Part 2 (Mr. Swanks Menstore)" matches the creepy horror movie sample lingering over the track (with a little room for some sleazy funk too). The tracks seem to segue into one another, though the heavily-processed beats of "Rusty Beats" speak for themselves, as do the strings and operatic sample of "Spy." The dub leanings still remain, as on "Tuft Er," but the frenzied drums of "Sloath" seem to be given more weight (as well as a weird, hilarious sample regarding Dolores). The operatic vocals come back on "Eugolana Box" and "Sonny," but dark and somewhat menacing both times, so the more mellow, jazzy downtempo of "Biscuits" comes almost as a surprise. But it's the slow strings of "The Darg Frog" that ends the album, like a song for mourning extinctions. A endlessly fascinating album.

This album is totally out of this world.
One of the weirdest, darkest and sickest records of all times.
Pure genius.
Takes time to get into it, but one will be rewarded for his patience.
No wonder it was never really understood or appreciated by mainstream media.
But that was never its purpose anyway.
It will forever remain the forgotten gem,
the true masterpiece for those who can understand its beauty.