There aren’t many underground artists who have the amount of respect as Aesop Rock. Aesop’s fans have been kept hungry over the years, consider this 7 track EP a snack. Production comes from Blockhead, Aesop and Rob Sonic with vocals by EL-P and Camu. Strangely the album includes an 80-page book containing all of Aesop’s lyrics from all of his records. Also, Aesop Rock fans should get to the store now as only 25,000 copies of this album have been pressed, giving the feeling that this is a gift only worthy of his most die hard fans.

The album begins with the track ‘Fast Cars’ in which Aesop takes on the personality of his alter-ego, Bazooka Tooth. He lays his lyrics over a craze of scratches and piano loops, produced by the well known Blockhead. Blockhead, an old acquaintance of Aesop (pre-Bazooka Tooth) returns to produce three tracks of the seven. Every track sends Aesop in a new direction lyrically resulting in more twisted wit than a Shakespeare play. The street tales never disappoint but the defining point of this EP is the Blockhead produced ‘Holy Smokes’ in which Aesop tells tales of his Catholic school background and his plentiful questions which were never answered. Including lines like ‘Cannot pay her bills with holy water and hail Mary luck’ and ‘By the time I was old enough to know what religion was, I was Catholicism numb and truly didn’t give a fuck’ it is easy to see Aesop’s reasons for this track. Once again Blockhead provides a musical backdrop worthy of the lyrical genius on show.

Aesop once again evolves as a frustratingly thought provoking emcee and the lyrics booklet may provide little comfort for fans trying to decipher his wit and humour. The album, and rightly so, is consistent to the underground legend of Aesop Rock and it seems it may leave fans thirsty for more rather than quenching their thirst.

I-Pod Worthy: Holy Smokes, Fast Cars, Zodiaccupuncture

Skippable: Well none really, they are all worth a listen, there are only 7 tracks after all

Overall: 4.5 out of 6 shots, it isn’t Labor Days but will keep die hard fans happy, the lyric book is also a welcome edition.