Dynametrix - A Measure Of Force (Kold Sweat - 1994)

Being in Australia, back before the internet days it was a challenge to get hold of UK hip hop. Hard enough to find UK records here let alone any info about the artists or singles. It was all a matter of what i read in the HHC magazine (when it was available) and reading shoutouts etc. on album covers. The other method of knowing what to buy was by looking at releases on familiar record labels - one of which was Kold Sweat. Anything released on Kold Sweat that seemed to be hip hop was good enough for me to grab hold of via mail order and take a chance on liking it. Dynametrix "A Measure of Force" was one of those Kold Sweat lucky dips.

The first real track after a short spoken intro is "The Equator". It's a cool song but very unlike the britcore sound that was popular at the time, it sounds more like a less abstract, less urgent Ultramagnetic track. The MC's are more than capable, one of them does sound a bit like a UK Ced Gee on this track adding to the slight Ultra feel but it's a little bit slow and ambling for my liking.

"Crack the Mic" takes things to another level and is a more "typical" UK sounding track of the era, this track would sit well on a Katch22 LP. Fast tempo raw beat with the MC's sounding like they have woken up after the prior track. This is more like it.

"Abort the Mission" and "Illin" bring a more funky, much more lightweight feel to the album and sound like tracks that the Outlaw Posse would make. Not bad per se but not too exciting either.

After a short beat interlude things get better with the more impressive "Time to Release". Nice head nodding track with various catchy samples used throughout. This track won't blow anyone away but it's pretty addictive listening.

Now here's where things heat up! "Mind Snatch" comes at you with that harder Katch22 sound. Hard beat, funky, funky bassline, top MC work - it's a great one indeed. Wish the whole album was like this, and you'd almost believe it is that good an album with the next track being the crazy rapid fire "Planet K11 ...". This time we have the MC adopting a tremendous "Kool Keith taking speed" style on the mic, all over a rapid, urgent beat which sounds like Apache on double speed and is well matched with some fuzzy horns on top and is a britcore lover's delight.

Another interludey nonsense come next in "Max to Relax" which is simply a mellow Mo-Wax sounding beat with some barely audible talking over the top with a chick saying something about "images of black people ..." which is probably an important message which deserved more prominence on the track than being as soft as it is here to listen to.

"Measure of Force" comes at us very nicely with a funky, headsnapping beat which chops and changes itself with jazzy sounds and a "clap your hands" Greg Nice sample for good measure. I can't really tell which MC is which against the guys names on the album insert but by this point in the album there's one rapper who sounds like Caveman's MCM who I do quite like and he shines on this feel good party jam.

"Who gives a damn" is driven by nothing much more than a dirty, funkyass breakbeat with a very deep old school sounding bassline over it. Sorta simple track but by no means poorer for the lack of depth. I quite enjoy this one.

"Worms in the Brain" is yet again a pointless little instrumental track (why does this exist so much in hip hop music ???). "I Got the Clout" finds it's backbone in another strong, raw bassline and again keeps em eager to listen as i find it hard to skip to the next track for due to the addictive nature of this one.

"For Real" sees Dynametrix bring some conscious lyrics to the table, which I always welcome, but unfortunately the song itself is a little too slow and boring for my liking. However i have a feeling they wanted us to really sit back, listen and ponder this one so the music is appropriate.

Zapp/Parliament influences show themselves on "Your Brain is Hollow". Funky beat which would probably suit Ice Cube or WC ... but it actually works for Dynametrix as well and although a really common sound in the States it is something more unique for the UK and these guys bring it nicely.

"Shadow" ... oh how i love "Shadow" !!! Sure you have to get through 16 tracks before you hear this but it's well worth the wait ! The track starts of with horns and keyboards going wild and then beat DROPS and it's on ... nothing but raw rhymes matched with a sparse raw dirty beat and bassline. Throughout the track the beat stops and starts again and in the breaks the horns kick in, the keyboard comes back, then the huge beat kicks off again and it's sheer dope bliss.

Aside from the instrumental interludes i like this album quite a lot. There's a nice variety with some hardcore raw tracks and other funkier, totally addicitive tunes - and nothing wack really to be found - it's an album that would probably cater fans on both sides of the old school UK hip hop equation - those who like hardcore and those who fiend for the funk.