KASHMERE REVIEWS
Kashmere's debut album marks him out as an impressively original; voice in homegrown hip-hop. In The Hour Of Chaos is a captivating journey into the recesses of his imagination: he crafts his dystopia through Biblical language and vapire imagery, reinforced with samples of hymns and chilling cackles. However it's not simply fantasy rap, Kashmere's metaphors address subjects such as street life, the ‘War On Terror', STD's and the surveillance state. It's like the best kind of horror film: disturbing but leaving you wanting more. Reminiscent of cult US rapper MF Doom's King Geedorah alter ego (a rapping three-headed lizard from outer space), Kashmere is a powerful hip hope story teller. 4/5 Stars.
Rahul Verma - Metro November 13 th 2006 .
If you can imagine Wesley Snipes' anti-hero Blade being dropped into the middle of seminal Hip-Hop flick "Wild Style" then you're halfway to capturing the vibe of Kashmere's "In The Hour Of Chaos". A unique blend of mystical lyricism and raw boom-bap beats, this album blurs the boundary between fantasy and reality, with Kashmere expertly connecting verses about vampires, zombies and the power of evil to his own opinions on world politics, spirituality and science. In less creative hands such a concept album may have sounded unconvincing, like the sonic equivalent of a corny horror movie complete with low-budget special effects and shaky acting. But the London-based lyricist succeeds here in crafting a Hip-Hop "Jacob's Ladder", sparking the imagination with vivid lyrical images that are as entertaining as they are unsettling and macabre.
Quick to avoid any devil worshipping rumours that rhyming about such subject matter may bring, Kashmere lets it be known on the ominous " Black Sea " that he's merely "trying to master both sides of the coin…yin and yang." So no need to have a crucifix handy if you ever bump into the rapper at a show. The Jehst -produced "Bones" finds Kash infiltrating an Illuminati fortress to do battle with the forces of evil, only to find George Bush "in his natural form, an evil beast with ten heads, fifty eyes" waiting for him. "Spawn Of Pazuzu" taps into our morbid fascination with the concept of Armageddon, with Kashmere, Severe and Dramacide spitting verses influenced by ancient scriptures over a spacey, futuristic Beat Butcha track. The atmospheric "Alpha To Omega" speaks to those who dismiss what they can't rationally explain, taking its cue from the age-old debate between science and religion, while the mellow "Veronica R.I.P." is a romantic tale from the crypt, accurately described by Kashmere as "Stephen King combined with Danielle Steel."
Irrespective of whether you think "In The Hour Of Chaos" is simply gory fantasy or abstract social commentary, Kashmere deserves props for being willing to push his creative limits as an artist, crafting an album that could be destined to become something of an underground cult classic.
BLUES & SOUL HIP-HOP COLUMN (PRINTED IN B&S 982 / AMY WINEHOUSE COVER / OCT 25 - NOV 7 2006 )
Previously confined to guestspots on albums by UK big-wigs Taskforce, Jehst, Ghost and Foreign Beggars, Kashmere – The Iguanaman finallyunleashes his debut LP ‘In The Hour Of Chaos'. Coming off like Cool-Keith's ultramagnetic nephew, there's more than a touch of the method-man about this British MC too. His flow is sporadic, slightly off-kilter and his rhymes littered with references to magic wizardry, medieval kingdoms, vampires and sword duels. I never thought this whole Terry Pratchett lyricism would work, but like Keith in his Dr Octagon guise, Kashmere pulls it off with aplomb. What's more his diction is superb ensuring that you don't miss a single reference to Merlin, Stephen King or Bram Stoker.
Beat wise, the usual suspects step up with offerings: Jehst, DJ IQ, LG, Beat Butcha, Chemo, Tranqill and Alhamra and whilst nothing here induces goosebumps, the eeries musical backdrop created by these beatsmiths enhances the peculiar vibe that Kashmere seems so eager to convey. All sombre strings and lonely piano motifs, the beats lope, or rather limp along mournfully, reminiscent of vintage Jazz Fudge material. Of course it's not a solo Kashmere show and cohorts Verb.T Jehst, The Almighty Alhamra and Iron Braydz lend a helping hand. Stand-out cuts are ‘Opium Foetus' which sees Kashmere lazily lacing LG's slow-burning piano groover and ‘Spawn Of Pazuzu'- an apocalyptic prophesy accompanied by Beat Butcha's lagging drums and appropriate electro fuzziness.
One Week To live
If he were a glossy pony parading at the Hip-Hop gymkhana, Britain 's Kashmere would easilly swipe the gold rosette for best concept album of 2006 for ‘In The Hour Of Chaos'. Where most hip-hoppers get things going with a skit featuring the heroic MC splashing about in a bath of dirty bong water with a ho, Kash introduces his voodoo joint with an excerpt from Ghostbusters and some demonic laughter. Rap's H.P. Lovecraft continues the theme , spitting about monsters, ghosts and all things horrorshow. It's probably a metaphor for something but with lines like “Deception! It was unreal, like Stephen King combined with Danielle Steele…” it's enough to just enjoy the flow. Well-chosen guests compliment Kashmere's blunted-yet-precise rhyming, with Jehst turning in a scorcher on ‘Souls Of The Unborn'. The production is all boom-bap head-nodding goodness, with high-end details reminiscent of Lewis Parker's ‘Masquerades & Sillhouettes', which is absolutely no bad thing. Kashmere must've come over all Rovert Johnson and sold his soul under the Bow flyover to magic up an LP this hot.
Clash Magazine October 2006
20 Minutes Of Chaos E.P.
‘In The Hour Of Chaos' was another of those great UK rap LP's lost in the glut of great autumnal releases. This is a great taster. Diggin' the derangement of ‘Spawn Of Pazuzu', the abstract genius of ‘Dead Gorillas On Broadway', the menace and reach of ‘Black Sea' but it's the massive monolith ‘The Ark' that makes this essential DJ material. Get it if you aint yet!
DJ Mag January 2007
Playing With Fire Press
First single from London rapper Kashmere's debut album due to drop in the summer. Drama and excellence in three and a half minutes. The joy and the pain of it all!
Blues&Soul May 2006
Utterly unfriendly hardcore from Kash. ‘Playing With Fire' scores your flesh with bustling kickdrums and renders your speaker corners positively mad with chirruping, buzzing amazonian-wildlife, like getting stranded in the jungle with nothing but a Roland drum machine for company. ‘Souls Of The Unborn', on the flip, is even darker – what sounds like warped prayers of the People's Temple laid on this ultra-bizzaro soundscape.
DJ Magazine April 2006
After paying his dues for the last few years with the likes of Ghost, and building up quite a rep, Kashmere is now ready to drop his debut LP. This single is the first taste of that, and so far, so good. The title track ‘Playing With Fire' is reminiscent of tracks that Kashmere made his name with, mid-tempo moods with his own particular brand of metaphor heavy flows. It';s a pretty strong track and a real head-nodder. Even better though is the B-side, Souls of the Unborn, which features a guest6 verse from Jehst. Underpinned by a rock solid beat which bumps along slowly with a brilliant little horn sample keeping the atmosphere just the right side of sinister. Very solid debut release.
Ukhh.com April 2006
Raw Styles 2 Press
Overall, this is a seven track and therefore great value for money EP, especially when you consider that all the tracks are both severely fat, but also offer something a touch different, both things being bonuses in times when releases often contain filler tracks. There is no fear of that here, and whilst some may say that the sound is too retro for them, with respect they don't actually know what they are on about. It is hard to put into words how solid this release is, the beats are soporific in the hypnotic, heavy and stimulating sense of the word and the lyrics which on occasion can be complicated or convoluted are at the same time time easily understandable and simply sublime. If that isn't enough syrupy praise to heap on one record I don't know what is. Mark my words... Check this.
BritishHipHop.co.uk January 2004
Raw Styles
You may have caught him live on the microphone at The Plug, or on the recently released Breakin Bread compilation showcase. If you haven't, then go check for this slice of basement phatness.
This four tracker starts with ‘The Fanatic' which bursts into life after a menacing piano intro. With one of those wicked, subliminal GZA lines for the chorus (Breakbeat fanatic, crazy deep in attics), I was instantly drawn into this tune's jazzy flavours. The vocals sound like they were recorded in a cave, which just adds to the whole subterranean vibe that runs throughout the EP.
Next up is ‘Psycho' and it's more Norman Bates than Lords of the Underground. Having said that the grimy horns are reminiscent of ‘Funky Child' and add to the organised chaos. There's definitely a retro feel to the production with the overall effect sounding like Pete Rock/Tribe on psychedelics.
Switch the platter and enjoy the irreverent piss-take that is ‘Spittin' Wid Arch'. The beat is some quirky accordion sounding shit that fits the tongue-in-cheek lyrics to perfection. ‘Game' completes the set and sounds similar to that ‘Potentiality' tune off the first ‘Tournament' EP. It's dark and downlow like the Sith and provides the perfect backdrop for some straight rawness. You know that anyone who shouts out, “All the chicken shops that almost killed me” just doesn't give a flying fuck. And that's a good thing.
UKHH.COM January 2004