DJ T-Rock and Squashy Nice: Getting Through (Why)

At the start of this slightly mad but always enjoyable hip-hop mash-up a sampled voice says, “welcome to a new kind of listening experience . . . this record is different/different/different”.

But that's not entirely true. As a clever meltdown of supple beats, rapid scratching, samples from obscure Southern country-soul, Mexican horns, bumpin' bass and much more from some long forgotten record collection, this goes back to the mid 80s when open-minded hip-hop was riding on wit, eccentricity and a love of the quirky.

And enjoying the pleasure of pulling odd music together with no political agenda but just because it sounded good – or funny.

T-Rock and Squashy Nice are apparently from southern USA (this, their third album is released on a New Zealand label) and there's something of the more languid days about this utterly unpredictable collection of often soulful songs (the aching Why Should I Go On early up and Baby Come Home later) punctuated by oddball $2 riffs, surface-noise soundbites and the occasional voice mentioning “43 flavours of jams and jellies” (with jazz flute).

Yes, it's silly and unashamed fun, but seriously clever.

Very welcome.

Like the sound of this? Then check out this.