Loki – Edging God Out

Album Review by Bram E. Gieben | 20 Jun 2013
Album title: Edging God Out
Artist: Loki
Label: Southside Deluxe
Release date: Out Now

The old retirement-and-comeback trick is a hip-hop staple, so how has it worked out for Loki, one of Scotland's most lyrically gifted writers and rappers? Assembling a mass of the finest beatmakers in the Scottish hip-hop scene, from past collaborator Scatabrainz to ubiquitous members of affiliated crews and collectives; the likes of Sound Thief, Zambian Astronaut, Konchis and others, he has constructed an uncompromising, angry, often hilarious 19-track album that is without a doubt the strongest of his career.

The intricate facets of his resurrection are myriad, from the hyper-intense double-time flows – which astound from guitar-driven opener The Lazarus Pit onwards – to the sense of scale and socio-political engagement evidenced by Alter of the Swoosh and Jump, galvanised by a searing, sometimes uncomfortable honesty. There are moments of straight-up boom bap (the fantastic Michael Keaton) and darkly comic battle raps (the controversy-baiting Omnilash). Loki's ambition here, both lyrically and musically, is astonishing. [Bram E Gieben]

http://misterlokiscotland.bandcamp.com