In what is being touted as the Beasties’ first ever all-new, all-instrumental album, these 12 tracks rattle through around three quarters of an hour of completely rap-free material from just about everyone’s favourite old school hip hop crew and what you get in place of the spat-out rhymes are some seriously funky jams.

Funky drums together with Hammond organ and riffing guitars get proceedings under way on B For My Name. And things continue with a sound that is somewhere between straight-up funk and garage rock.

Although there’s the occasional moment where the guys sound like they’ve drifted in to playing a simple backing for a rap track, they throw in enough different influences to keep it interesting.

There’s the hint of dub on Suco De Tangerina and The Gala Event, as well as the touch of post-rock on The Rat Cage, and the psych influence and sitar on Dramastically Different.

The vibe is, on the whole, pretty laid back and probably more Sunday afternoon than Saturday night. And, it may well be somewhat disappointing for fans of the guys’ rap, but it is a fun glimpse of their work from a different angle, shows where they’re at right now, and will keep many people happy through an afternoon drive or two.

It’s an album that won’t blow your world apart and probably won’t become your new best friend, but it will slot in nicely as if you’ve been pals for years already, just invite them around for a chilled get together and you’ll see.

Rating: 7/10

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http://www.teknoscape.com.au/forums/showthread.php?p=1405736

Tracklist:
1. B For My Name
2. 14th St. Break
3. Suco De Tangerina
4. The Gala Event
5. Electric Worm
6. Freaky Hijiki
7. Off The Grid
8. The Rat Cage
9. The Melee
10. Dramastically Different
11. The Cousin Of Death
12. The Kangaroo Rat

This was a RTRFM Full Frequency album feature.

Label: Capitol/EMI