Nearly 5 years on from the first edition, Innit Records head honcho Beit Nun returns with his latest instalment, “Where The Art Is Vol.2”. At a pretty hefty 20 tracks, it boast’s production credits from the likes of Wizard, Naïve, Baron Samedi, Ill Skillz, Pro P and features from Dr. Syntax, Sonnyjim, Ramson Badbonez, Dan Bull, Lego, Chris Leese & Deeflux to name but a few .
I’ve had this pumping through my speakers for the last week or so and the more it gets played, the harder it’s been for me to pick out the highlights; there’s very little filler. On “Words”, Nun, Sonnyjim and Badbonez take turns to absolutely desecrate Wizard’s hard-hitting, head bobber; with Jabba The Kut tearing it up on the wheels of steel just for good measure. Similarly, the brilliant ABBA sampling, Deeflux assisted “A Rich Man’s World” should be bumped at high volume (preferably in a residential area).
Singer Jane Ellis features heavily throughout the project, offering a smoother balance to Beit Nun’s gruff, Northern twang. Their partnership shines brightest on the funky “Gone” and the more mellow “Live For The Moment”, on which her woozy vocals get sandwiched between intricate verbals from Nun & Doc Synners.
For me, “Where The Art Is…” follows the old adage of saving the best until last. “Immortality” sees Rise’s floating strings blessed as Nun combines with Skuff, Cappo and 777 to compliment the laid back vibes with stellar 16s. Rounding off proceedings, “Innit To Win It” takes shape as the emphatic finale to “Volume 2”. A “posse cut” in the classic sense, Eddie Cooper’s wailing guitars are quickly joined by Dead Man Walkn’s heavy drum loops as Lego joins the rest of the Innit Records roster for a relentless, 8-bar exchange.
Admittedly, before Beit Nun dropped the first single “Without Love” at the turn of the year, I’d heard very little of the Macclesfield mic man. A blend of dope beats, guest spots galore and Nun’s trademark tone, “Where The Art Is Vol.2” is an impressive and well-rounded release. It’s an eclectic and distinctive listen, and worth downloading purely on the grounds that it sounds so different to material that’s dropping around it right now. Draw your own conclusions though folks…
Download “Where The Art Is Vol.2” from iTunes HERE
Review By Mike Pattemore: @beats_n_pieces
