Drift by Nosaj Thing
LABEL:  Alpha Pup

“Much like Ratatat, Nosaj Thing exploits our fond memories of the classics, gains our trust, spikes our drinks, and then shoves us down the rabbit hole.”

So, musician of many monikers Luke Vibert (Plug, Wagon Christ, Kerrier District) and experimental hip-hop turntablist DJ Shadow meet up in a bar. They sit down, share a plate of wings, order some drinks. They have a great time, and eventually, conversation turns to collaboration. The two hit the studios and effortlessly churn out a brilliant synth-laden ambient hip-hop album. Like the way this dream sounds? Well me too, but it’s most likely never going to happen. However, the closest that you can get to listening to this imaginary album is by listening to the instrumental debut Drift by Nosaj Thing, released June 9th, on Daddy Kev’s Alpha Pup label.

Nosaj Thing is the stage name of L.A.-born producer Jason Chung. A product of Los Angeles’ prolific underground hip-hop and D.I.Y. music scenes, Jason clearly shows his influences throughout this debut. The album’s ambience brings to mind DJ Shadow, the synths recall the late-90s electronica of The Orb or Daft Punk, and the textures are reminiscent of Aphex Twin or Prefuse 73.

And like Prefuse 73, Nosaj Thing uses recorded voice not as a showpiece, but as an ambient instrument. Human breaths are peppered as percussion throughout his gently wafting “Fog,” and in the showstopper “Lords,” a grand chorus is digitally chopped and dropped in a way that would make Beethoven or Carl Orff proud. A single male voice is distorted beyond recognition in “Coat of Arms,” leaving the listener with a drone that sounds like a cross between an alien invasion and a traditional Egyptian folk song, coupled with a massive beat that would make any backpacker’s head nod. 

Other songs, like the devious “1685Bach” and the chilled electro jam “IOIO”, play out as if a band of DJs from the 1980s jumped into the future and crash-landed in our time on the way back. Many of the synths just have that early hip-hop, “The Message”-esque quality to them. Much like Ratatat, Nosaj Thing exploits our fond memories of the classics, gains our trust, spikes our drinks, and then shoves us down the rabbit hole.

Drift by Nosaj Thing is a stellar debut. From front to back, the album rarely comes off point, and seamlessly creates a brilliant sonic hybrid of hip-hop and electronica. All I can recommend is to grab the album, wait for a thunderstorm, put on your headphones and enjoy the show.


REVIEWED BY GUY THILLET
GUY'S FAVORITE TRACKS:  “Coat of Arms” · “1685 Bach,” · “IOIO” · “Lords”

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