BRSB

Bacao pan out of Hamburg, lending a Caribbean touch to rap hits, although some of these covers are somewhat mainstream selections (Drake, A$AP Rocky, 50 Cent). The steelpans of Trinidad and Tobago are expected to dominate, although in reality they’re often more of a mood-flavouring. It’s the beats and drums that are problematic here, often sounding, by turns, clumsy, stiff, straight or uncertain. Also, the beats are too high in the mix, compared to the pans. A slow pace is preferred throughout; a wooden attempt at funkin’. The best tunes are the Bacao originals, such as ‘Hazy Memories’, with its shimmering dub trundle, or ‘Treasure Quest’, evoking an uptempo spy theme, with a prominent electric bass guitar line. An odd number out is a reading of the ‘Stranger Things Theme’, with rippling pans lending mystery, twin guitars hovering and prickling. The best rap tune is ‘Nuthin But a G Thang’ by Dr Dre & Snoop Dogg, with the pans soloing and the bass throb dominant, both sides equal in strength. Overall, though, the hip-hop reworkings of labelmates El Michels Affair are preferable.