<p><span><span>- Producer-helmed tapes have become somewhat of a rarity in recent hip-hop with most projects that highlight their producers doing so with simultaneous recognition of a rapper. Such is not the case for super-group Quakers, consisting of <strong>Portishead</strong>’s <strong>Fuzzface</strong>, <strong>7-Stu-7</strong> and Australia’s very own <strong>Katalyst</strong>, who have collaborated, not only to create a fifty track instrumental project released in September, but also a further thirty-three track album featuring a multitude of underground rappers the majority of which I’d never even heard of. While a project like this may seem daunting, Quakers have managed to condense their opus into a tight-window of fifty-five minutes which may or may not be a good decision depending on your perspective. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Start It Like This</em> begins the project with a laid back drum-heavy groove matching a slow but sophisticated <strong>Phat Kat </strong>verse. Flipping a sample of <strong>Raekwon</strong>’s verse on <strong>C.R.E.A.M.</strong>, Quakers seem to draw heavy influence from the Shaolin sound with a hint of boom-bap as well. Kat is threatening with boasts of his long-term success, power and violent ability as he eyeballs his enemies.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Bare Essentials </em>is almost an updated <strong>Hendrix </strong>track over heavier drums with roaring guitars backing '90’s Texan rap collective <strong>The Niyat. </strong>It is impressive that multiple verses from the group can be both hard-hitting and intricate in under two minutes. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span><strong>The Koreatown Oddity </strong>heats up the political strife over military drums with an accented march that builds the intensity on <em>Double Jointed</em>. Touching on American race-relations, Koreatown easily has the best feature on the entire project as he describes the continuous hatred that has swallowed US society despite it being 2020 and not 1960.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span><em>Duck & Cover</em> continues Quakers’ bass heavy style however the group goes all out on the layering with electronic beeping, vinyl scratching, as well as samples of soul singing and some classic <strong>Ol’ Dirty Bastard</strong>, which, while overdone, still somehow manages to feel fresh. <strong>Guilty Simpson </strong>and <strong>Cysion </strong>provide solid verses, however Quakers undoubtably are the stars of the track.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Lead single <em>Approach With Caution</em> is an easy choice for most memorable track and that’s all in part due to Australian rapper <strong>Sampa the Great</strong>. While Quakers provide a solid glimmering piano-looping beat, Sampa continues to be one of our country’s best with an almost effortless flow that is simply inviting to the ear. Sampa ends the track with a gorgeous and relaxing soul-like singing section backed by simple but effective adlibs that proves, just as she declaims in the chorus, she doesn’t care.</span></span></p>
<p><span><span>This review can only tackle a subsection of what this project will offer patient listeners, ready to dive into a stacked line-up of talent. It's almost like sifting for gold: while I think Quakers are an immensely talented group, there is almost too much going on especially in the last third of the record, which may put you in danger of tuning out. As much as I’d like to see a more refined Quakers work with longer songs and fewer rappers, I can still safely say having such an extended track list will guarantee there is something for everyone even if you do end up picking and choosing. </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>- James Chadwick.</span></span></p>
<iframe style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 120px;" src="https://bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/album=925524645/size=large/bgcol=ff…; seamless><a href="https://quakersuk.bandcamp.com/album/ii-the-next-wave">II - The Next Wave by Quakers</a></iframe>