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MH-225 The Opus - Breathing Lessons  After locking themselves in their Chicago studio with a mountain of dusty vinyl and two lifetimes worth of musical inspiration, the Opus have finally emerged to deliver Breathing Lessons a mesmerizing collection of reflective, instrumental hip-hop. Using their signature palette of chopped percussion and intricate drum programming as base materials, they expand their compositions, adding layers of strings, detuned piano, analog synths, floor rumbling bass, and reverb to haunting effect. Although the all-too-brief vocal appearance of Lord 360 reminds listeners of their productions for MCs on Rubberoom’s Architechnology and their own 2002 debut First Contact, this release is clearly intent on establishing the Opus as a production duo capable of creating music that stands on its own. |
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| Reviews Summary |
| One of the underground's finest beatmaking tandems - Urb / A fine example of instrumental hip-hop - Exclaim! / Call it good mood music for bad moods - Entertainment Weekly / Quality stuff for the introspective heads, and recommended - Undercover / Nocturnally restful and hauntingly evocative - Igloo |
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| Anybody remember horror-core hip-hop? Of course not. The morbid subgenre flared up in the mid 90s, spawned some inspired acts (Gravediggaz), along with some lifeless ones (Flatlinerz), and just as quickly turned to ash. Clearly, Chicago production duo the Opus remember that moment with fondness: Though they thankfully forgo horror-core's gimmicky, death obsessed lyrics, their instrumental sophomore album is as bleak and intimidating as any tale Brotha Lynch Hung ever spun. But for all its hip-hop noir, the darkly ethereal Breathing Lessons is surprisingly easy listening, thanks in no small part to Mr. Echoes' and partner the Isle of Weight's persistent percussion programming. You'll find yourself nodding right along even as multiple layers of droning chords and eerie half melodies loom like ominous clouds on the horizon. Call it good mood music for bad moods. - Entertainment Weekly |
2XLP/Out Of Print