(RUN)

Some artists are in hip-hop strictly to make money. You can separate such groups instantly from those who, like the Mountain Brothers, clearly love their music and their art. I had been looking forward to getting a copy of this album for so long that I was worried about being disappointed. I need not have worried.

The Mountain Brothers bring a very organic and progressive sound to their music, much like their Philly counterparts, the Roots. However, instead of all live instrumentation, the music is based on rhythms laid by Chops. Check for this cat, his skills are not to be slept on. The production on this album is complex and simple, varied yet similar. Above all though, it's musically beautiful.

Lyrical duties are handled by Chops, who's no slouch on the mic either; Peril-L, who glides over tracks like currents through air. He manages to flow with the beat and against it simultaneously. Styles, the third member of the trio is just as talented as his brethren, and probably the most battle oriented of the three. One of the best things about this group is their ability to truly collaborate rather than sounding like three individuals who wrote three verses supposedly about the same subject. In addition, their quirky sense of humour and ability not to take themselves too seriously endears them to the listener.

You shouldn't sleep on any of the tracks on this album. Even the interludes (and I hesitate to call them that because they are far from your average interludes) help advance the vibe of the album. Particularly check for "Galaxies: the next level," which many may have heard already; "Brand Names," where they flip the usual big willie rhymes on a more low budget tip. "Fluids" is potentially my favourite track. Instead of just a single horn, Chops laces a brass section over some ill scratches. Again, the track is also blessed lyrically by all three, pushing each other to elevate and innovate all the time. This tune also provided one of my favourite quotables from the album, "Hip-hop is kinda scary / 'Cause a lot of cats are talking out their asses like Jim Carrey / but saying nada"

"The Adventures Of..." introduces the world to the extraterrestrial average joe, the cosmic pimp and the magnificent butcher. "Paperchase" has the MBs exploring the difficulty of trying to get your pockets right without selling your soul or compromising your music. Also check, "Turntable Mathematics," "Days of Being Dumb," and "5 Elements."

The final verdict: This is one of the most solid, cohesive and consistently ill albums I've heard in a long time. Run out and try to find a copy. Put in a special order if you have to, but you will definitely not regret laying out the cash for this one.

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