Masquerades & Silhouettes

Artist: Lewis Parker
Label: Melankolic
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 017046962926
EAN: 0017046962926
ASIN: B000009N2N

Release Date: 1998-07-28

Masquerades & Silhouettes

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Tracks:

Theme From 'The Ancients'
Shadows Of Autumn (Dirty Version)
A Thousand Fragments
Fake Charades (Dirty Version)
Crusades
Song Of The Desert
Eyes Of Dreams
101 Pianos (I've Put Out The Lights)

Amazon.com

Though it's not always obvious, much of Massive Attack's sound is informed by their time spent in the hip-hop underground. So it's only fitting that the first release on their Melankolic label is from Lewis Parker, a youngster (21 at the time of this album) with a penchant for relating his experiences in science-fiction terminology. Parker, however--well, he's not a Jedi yet. His rhymes have potential, and he has an interesting outlook, but he has yet to find the verbal flow to pull it all together, though he comes closest on "Crusades," which is a shame, as it's the album's most generic track. Still, the eight songs here do occasionally sound as if they come from a galaxy far, far away--the production incorporates sweeping Brazilian tinges, clarinets, and some great drum sounds (though without any real rhythmic innovations)--but it's grounded in the familiar (a warm needle scratch, crackle-and-pop background). The force is strong in Parker, though, and this is a promising debut. --Randy Silver

Customer Reviews:

Lost in the sand dunes.......2003-10-09

Lewis Parker was one of the first hip hop albums I can say I truly listened to without a moments laps in concentration from beginning to end, he takes you on a great journey though the pyramids to star wars without the usual unintelligent cussing that has become so prominent in hip hop today.
This album is a must have for any hip hop fan who likes a high degree of thought put into the lyrics.

Lyrics are very philosophical but production is kinda bland........2001-04-17

Lewis Parker is a very very good British MC who reminds me of William Blake in his lyrics and stylings and even topics too... However, the production is rather bland and Stonehenge like. I enjoy the piano samples and the various string samples and they remind of RZA. However, the lack of funk is rather evident and it seems more ambient in my own ears.

Song of the Desert and 101 Pianos are the album's highlights. I did like the fact that the album was short and without any filler material. Hopefully he can get a better producer. On the other hand, I did enjoy some scratching on the CD at least...

hip hop's star child.......2000-01-17

Quite possibly the most sophisticated (lyrically) hip hop album I've ever heard. His prophetic lyrics give an enlightened and universal insight into the human spirit. He's much like a Bob Marley, if he had been locked in room with the star wars films for a few years. He's easily one of the most intellectual and spiritually enlightened mcs I've ever been able to buy on a cd. Hip hop needs, now more then ever, for its mcs like Lewis Parker to be made more accessible to the masses. I'm going to give hip hop a second chance because of him. I would suggest all thinkers get this album soon.

ROCKS LIKE STONEHENGE.......1998-08-24

Hardcore Hip Hop for hippies and heads.

This CD is more amazing every time I listen to it. It sounds like Lewis likes Jeru, Digible Planets (Blow Out Comb) Attica Blues and Current 93(?!!!). I wish more MCs worked with unique extended metaphores.I'm feelin that dark ages mystic vibe like the black plague. Deadly.

Masquerades & Silohuettes.......1998-08-07

Masquerades & Silohuettes is a hip-hop classic. Although its fairly new, to me it is one of the best albums of all times. Number 1 reason why I think this album is so good, is that Parker is one of the few emcees that one could call a poet. His lyrics are deep and mesmerizing and along with some of the most innovative beats to bless my ears in some time, this album has me listening to it non-stop. The best tracks are "Crusades" and "A Thousand Fragments". Parker's lyrics on Crusades paint a mental picture of deserts and mystical castles while verbally striking down the fake emcees(an old concept, I know, but it is done with a new twist). On "A Thousand Fragments", Parker's poetry is amazing but his guest on this track, Supa T leaves a lot to be desired. All in all, though this album is one of the freshest albums Ive heard in a while. I can tell Parker put a lot of time into the beats and thought long and hard on his lyrics. Thi! s is NOT an album to be slept on!! I'd put this one right next to Illmatic...

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