Freestylers

album reviews

Freestylers' second album follows much the same pattern as We Rock Hard, trading on varied Freestyler faves from ragga and rave to old-school rap and electro. Still, this trio of seasoned producers hardly sounds bored by the same old sound, and relatively unseduced by any recent developments in British clublife. There's plenty of turntablist terror on the catchy intro, but also on what would've been just a standard R&B tune ("Told You So," with Petra Jean Phillipson). Freestylers again recruit chatters Tenor Fly and MC Navigator for multiple appearances, and find good ways to reuse everything from an old hip-hop standard (Black Sheep's "The Choice Is Yours") to an even older reggae standard (Willie Williams' "Armagideon Time"). One listen to "Bass Odyssey" and it's clear the trio also fondly remember the early-'90s heyday of rave. Pressure Point differs from We Rock Hard in that it doesn't emphasize the anthems/singles, but it's clearly a tighter, better listen. ~ John Bush, All Music Guide