COMBINED REVIEWS
The grim and grainy sleeve design might suggest just another nondescript offering – a good example of why you should always give everything a listen before judging. It's a six-track EP from the North-London pairing of Baron Synback and Reinforcer, in it's whole an inspiring piece of head-nodding hip-hop, slightly retro in feel, reminiscent of the likes of Black Moon or Lords Of The Underground. The self-titled track sums it all up best, with lyrics bouncing nicely on top of a moody, guitar-laden beat, and with a few bagpipes thrown in. “Day Schemin” is a little more stark and bare, while “Sacrifice” is deep mind music, with a mournful, dramatic feel. You'd be hard-pressed to slot this in alongside any of the other existing sounds coming out of London right now, and that's no bad thing.
Touch Magazine – April 2005
North London's Baron Synback and Reinforcer – one with a bit of a skinny tongue in his head, the other sounding like Rory were the Lock Stock gangsta to stop bitching about spilt milk – do beats and rhymes in no half-measures. Dome-aimed snares for violins and pianos to entwine into, and Kashmere's mates applying a firm mic chokehold. No Nonsense.
DMC update May 2005
On ‘Track One' Reinforcer keeps the rhymes murderously incisive whilst Baron Synback takes it lo-fi and makes it sound sumptuous, huge, suggestive. Ghost produces ‘Combined Mentalz' and even though it's stunning, Baron Synback's remains the more fascinating. ‘Dayschemin' thumps like Roots or Radiohead and ‘Pro-Producing' pivots on a slamming string swell perfect for club or head-phones. ‘Sacrifice' closes things out on a real Kurt Weil-vibe, all spy-movie shadows and a truly diseased yet beautiful violin that lingers like her perfume when she left for Zagreb to betray you. Oh Mishkin, when will you return?
DJ Magazine April 2005.
Starting with the lethal statement of intent that is “Track One”, stating all the reason why they are number one, duo Combined Mentalz cut a tough figure. New material from Receptor is always a pleasure. After all, they're the ones who unleashed the untouchable Kashmere on the world. This is a different vibe. More typical hip-hop on display here. Less rhymes and beats about science fiction. It's all straight up sample-led headnodding hip-hop. Lovely guitars over ethereal violins, laced with bouncy mid-tempo beats, underpinning fierce deadly duo-esque bacn and forth rhyming. All these tracks are in essence statements of intent for Combined Mentalz and the Receptor Records takeover. Despite Baron Synbacks nice production, the real highlight here is the eponymous trach “Combined Mentalz” produced by Ghost. Yep it's another music-for-heads banger. All high pitched flute and guitar licks, if showcasing the lad's professional production to the fullest. The rappers come correct over the top of it. This is an impressive debut from a strong clique, with some top-dollar acts behind it. What with Ghost on the boards and Kashmere as a buddy, this is a crew to look out for.
UKHH.COM April 2005