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News and Press

New review of Bread in Bradford

date added: Sat 11 Aug 2007

Bread in bradford Bread in bradford

Album Review done by Leeds Hip Hop

Exp's bread in Bradford album was reviewed by Leeds HipHop - Click here - quotes include
"Listening to Bread In Bradford is similar to raising a goat; you never know what's going to get eaten next, the neighbours will refuse to get over it and all your mates will be secretly jealous." click on "more" or the above link for the full review...

...Bronx kids are lucky. They have a never ending back catalogue of hip hop tracks dictating their lives and surroundings to the bone. Hip hop is international, there’s always going to be a sense of relation wherever you're from.

However there's clearly a big difference between the Bronx and Bradford. You can appreciate the way the Bronx has inspired these beats. But you'll seriously love the way Bradford has inspired the lyrics, the personality and the soul. For too long have we waited to go to a gig and sing along to something about Forster Square. (The next person I meet who pronounces the first 'R' I swear down is gona get brayed like a fox). So no wonder Experimentality have a lot to say. And there's no need to hold back because it’s pretty fucking impossible for them to worry about saying something that’s been said before. Because if we were all the same we wouldn’t have so many fucking TV channels, and now DAB digital radio stations. The lyrics are down to earth, but they can kind of hop, skip and jump about all over the earth producing something stronger; ‘You think R&B is cool, you need to be shot… So fuck breaking America I prefer to fix it’.

The entire album is consistent and levelled. Not painfully blinding but satisfyingly beautiful to look at. There’s a very Dimples D, Def Jef, Kurtis Blow, kind of playful old school influence. Especially on ‘In The Heat’ featuring another local genius - JND. Something completely new, different and attention seeking is thrown all over the innocence of the melodies. Just like graffin’ a deer. Even the fairly random ‘Chobos’ Christmas track seems to follow the rules the lads have set for themsens.

The only thing that does not reflect the Bradford spirit is the slightly ‘safe’ approach that is apparent from a distance. Obviously, if a track is crap, you don’t put it on your disc. But becoming too obsessed with audience reaction, pleasing everyone and keeping the beats within the lines looses some of the excitement and rawness modern hip hop is lacking. The drumming is proper mint, not too much, not too little. But the ‘Experimentality’ could perhaps be taken one step further to do the name extreme justice. Hopefully in the next album, because this one is still moreish. Just raise the shock level a bit more and fuck people up. I’m talking a violent, careless krumper attitude. The personalities we’re dealing with were clearly meant for that. And would happily work hard to fuck people off. Whatever it is that’s holding them back beat wise; only time, experience and becoming possessed by the FUNK will conquer. The risk factor has not been lost, just misplaced. Including talent like JND and Mucka Steez is definitely a swipe in the right direction.

To put it simply in the form of the dancefloor…

There’s the breaker who can do a few basics and fly around a bit to make you smile. Then there’s the breaker who’s mastered all the basics and is able to flip them up, create their own solid moves, throw in influences from all over the place and make you scream.

I’m not sure if it’s the true to home lyrics or the album cover filled locals brandishing baguettes, chapatti and Kingsmill loaves(other brands are available) in Centenary Square. But there’s definitely a comforting sense of community and realism in this disc.

Listening to Bread In Bradford is similar to raising a goat; you never know what’s going to get eaten next, the neighbours will refuse to get over it and all your mates will be secretly jealous.

When the final track was over I couldn’t help clapping. And even if you’re more of a pasta, rice or couscous person, you’ll probably find yoursen doing some kind of encore."