While its not uncommon, the worlds of hip-hop and punk may still seem like strange bedfellows. Discounting the turgid, red-cap wearing “rap rock” atom bomb at the turn of the century, they have more in common than you may think; if not in style, then certainly in attitude. It is for this reason that New Jersey trio, Dalek, have found success in both communities. The raw, and very real lyrics of Will Brooks (otherwise known as MC Dalek) have resonated with both fans and peers alike, giving way to Dalek feeling just as at home on a stage with Tool or The Melvins as they would KRS-One or De La Soul.
Returning after a six-year hiatus, Brooks has revived Dalek with new members and joined the ranks of Profound Lore; a label with diverse acts such as Pallbearer and Prurient. It couldn’t be a more fitting place. Their comeback EP, ‘Asphalt For Eden’, while still hip-hop in its purest form, carries such sonic dexterity that it can’t be pinned down to the confines of one genre.
Fans of average, polished hip-hop will probably have their minds blown by ‘Asphalt For Eden’. You won’t find any quantized 808s or bright piano leads here. Searing noise shrouds distorted beats, providing the perfect soundtrack for Brooks’ visceral flow. Each track has a dark ambience seeping from it, and conjures a more terrifying vision than any 90’s “horrorcore” hip-hop could possibly dream up.
The signature style of Brooks’ rapping is as fresh as ever. He is clear and concise throughout over the underlying, old-school breaks of ‘Shattered’, and buried slightly amongst the dense, cascading feedback of ‘Guaranteed Struggle’. “I don’t need a fucking anthem/I need change”, from ‘Masked Laughter (Nothing Left)’, sums up the urgent battle cry of Dalek’s manifesto perfectly. The brutally honest narrative, dealing with numerous social and political topics, is a world away from the bragging-by-numbers directive of today’s commercial hip hop.
‘Asphalt For Eden’ undoubtedly shows Dalek at their creative best, and once again pushes boundaries of not just hip-hop but underground music in general. Placing a six-minute, serene funnel of noise in the midst of an EP is a bold move, but you wouldn’t expect anything less from this forward-thinking collective. There are even grandiose moments of soaring beauty in the style of Jesu and My Bloody Valentine that give way, and collapse into wailing cacophony on the volatile ‘It Just Is’.
While deliberately uninviting, ‘Asphalt For Eden’ is ultimately intoxicating. Dalek make no attempts to grab at the mainstream and have created an aurally challenging body of work. It’s what hip-hop needs and proves there are no boundaries when it comes to true artistry. In a world of ‘Hotline Bling’s’ and misogynistic charlatans being hailed as poets, Dalek are more important than ever and demand your attention.
GLEN BUSHELL