Trinity (Past, Present And Future)

Amazon.co.uk There have been big changes in the camp of Detroit hip-hop trio Slum Village between the release of their exceptional debut album and Trinity (Past, Present and Future. Founder member and producer Jay Dee, who provided their rootsy jazz-funk soundtrack, has all but retired from active service; meanwhile easy-going rappers Baatin and T3 have been joined by the decidedly more forthright Elzhi. Consequently, their second set rolls to a far grittier set of values. The smouldering R&B struts of "S.O.U.L.", "La La" and "Tainted" are the only real concessions to their former laid back selves. Instead, Trinity offers a seemingly inexhaustible supply of ruthlessly stripped-back beats, barebones soul and dogmatic down-tempo grooves--an eerie and desolate backdrop for their newly discovered lyrical bite. Though nowhere near as seductive as their debut, when they hit pay dirt with "Insane", "Hoes" and the unnervingly hypnotic "What Is This", their spacey swagger--equal parts old-school hip-hop and futuristic Neptunes-style R&B--is undeniably addictive. And with Elzhi's acerbic rhyming style adding an extra punch, Trinity makes for a fresh and arresting comeback. --Dan Gennoe