Now on deluxe, double 180g vinyl with gatefold sleeve! For me, buying MF Doom records is one of the few activities that captures that feeling of refuge found in thrift stores when you are trapped in suburbia, seeking a getaway from all the predictability and mass market chain stores. Doom is one of today's true variables. You can never imagine his next move. His debut release on Ninja Tune's subsidiary Big Dada is what you'd expect from the unexpected; nothing and everything. The album is truly free form, only relying on the boom bip frame. I love the GTO-type of I can drive fucking anywhere I want feeling on "Fastlane" featuring Biolante. Beautiful downtempo? Check the instrumental interlude "Monster Zero," which sets up the unbelievably smooth talkin "Anti Matter" clack clack clack. Throughout the album, Doom's beats make unknown emcees sound like lottery picks, check quickies like "Lockjaw" featuring Trunks. Fittingly, Doom takes on the final track, "The Fine Print." Is that an outtro or what? Off into the dust. 13 tracks in all with lots of guests. This pressing also comes with a free MP3 download. Recommended.

• music label: Big Dada 2003 / 2013

reviewed by the mgmnt 10/2005