Muph and Plutonic - ...And Then Tomorrow Came (Album)

Muph & Plutonic's album is here!

This has been one of the few releases I've been looking forward to, anticipating with great relish like a fat man at a sandwich store. I reviewed Size of the Soul, M&P's pre-album release single, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Good flow, good production, good song. It wasn't an explosive hit, but it wasn't trying to be one; it was a solid album track that whet the appetites of M&P fans.

And now ...And Then Tomorrow Came has come. And then it's good. And now I'll review it. And now I'll stop doing this 'cause it must be annoying.

First track The Damn Truth oozes out of your speakers, repetitive bassline and solid beat the perfect underline to the main text that is Muph's lyrics. Or is that the other way 'round? Plutonic is a master producer, and the music on this album – the instruments – is incredible. 'Oozing' is a pretty good way of describing M&P's aural aesthetic, and I'm not talking about earwax. The music is smooooth. Yeah, four o's. It doesn't have the impact of something like Hilltop Hoods' The Nosebleed Section but it's not trying to achieve that at all; this is smooth, funky hip hop. It's incredibly well made in all aspects, which makes it seem almost effortless.

Balloon Heads is another oozy Aussie cut, the lyrics of which attack the inflated egos of other musicians, movie stars... it doesn't specify, it just makes a statement. And is based on a pun. So yeah, that's pretty cool. The song features the vocals of Kye, a British DJ who I couldn't find much information about. His accent mixes well with the subtle bass groove and gives the track an awesome chorus.

These two opening tracks serve as a great introduction to an album that is incredibly cool, groove-laden and catchy. Other standout tracks include ballad-hop Yesterday's Basement which relies on an acoustic guitar loop to create a melancholic mood, Filthy Rich, whose piano, brass section and scratching coalesce into a funky Latin track. The title track appears to utilise an acoustic double bass, reminding me of another great hip hop duo - Pete Philly & Perquisite (if you don't know them, check them out!). It also uses a blues harmonica, which adds to the pondering soulful atomsphere of the track. The single Size of the Soul remains a solid song that fits in well with the rest of the albums style and sound.

The lyrics are a level above that of the majority of Australian rappers. When Muph raps, he talks about concepts, not specifics. He has the ability to make universal statements that still manage to connect to the listener, and that is a rare talent. He talks about truth, ego, paranoia and youth as concepts, in ways that are poetic, overarching, and accurate. He makes an emotional as well as an intellectual impact in ways that pop culture and political references can't. The lyrics won't age, and neither will the music – skillfully drawing on earlier evergreen styles such as soul and Motown. Their influences are apparent but not dominant, and the music on ...And Then Tomorrow Came fills a void of artistic credibility that existed in Australian hip hop.

This is an album to be proud of, an artistic acheivement that defines Muph & Plutonic as credible, talented hip hop artists who can create catchy, cool music.

Share this review on Facebook