Albums of the Decade - 77. Kode 9 & The Spaceape - Black Sun

77. KODE 9 & THE SPACEAPE - BLACK SUN

This took the cake for my album of 2011, before the tragic passing of the poet and MC Spaceape in 2014. Think exceptional dub, truncated arpeggios, coupled with grizzly ragga rhymes. The syncopation of "Love Is The Drug" for example provides a cut that outwardly pumps its chest forth while burying the looped vocals under the belt of the mix. If Burial, also on the Hyperdub label is sheltery and mysterious, then this album provides the best of both worlds, a secluded bolt-hole but primed in the brilliance of day.

Kode 9, a.k.a.  Steve Goodman is the flagbearer for the Hyperdub record label, and I urge you to check out its roster of artists. No, I'm not pitching the shit to the man, merely endorsing a carriage-load of London. This album may have zoomed higher up the charts, had it been a bit more recent - there is other poetry to tuneage on this shitstorm of a blog. I need to promote the hashcakes / hashtags a bit better to get my own content ranked further up the brilliance of Google.

records of 2011: 1. Kode9 & The Spaceape - Black Sun

1. KODE9 & THE SPACEAPE- BLACK SUN
This album fuses spoken-word poetry with dub music. The spoken-word voice of The Spaceape carries reggae, ragga and so much utter conviction, that one can't help but pout their lips in approval.

This is the ultimate collaborative album. Steve Goodman is the man behind the project, - he's Kode9 - and the illustrious Hyperdub record label that includes Burial. And he's Scottish. This music however reminds me of London so much that it's no wonder he relocated there. There's no bagpipes on this one.

This takes the crown this year, because from top to bottom this album remains edgy, energising and thematic. Radiation is the theme here. So put on your suncream, top up your tan and happy new year!