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Reviews

Yohimbe Brothers — The Tao of Yo
(Thirsty Ear THI57149.2, 2004, CD)

by Jeff Melton, Published 2005-03-01

The Tao of Yo Cover art DJ Logic and Vernon Reid (ex Living Color) are collectively known as Yohimbe Brothers and this is their second release. On their first excursion together the duo established an enthusiastic level of musical interaction that is refined in these thirteen high energy collaborative pieces. Various other contributors are also present from rappers such as Latasha Nevada Diggs on “Shine for Me” and Bos Omega on “TV” to vocalists such as Eva-Milan Zsiga on “No Rio.” “TV” is their most political statement on the disc and it reminds me of Living Color’s classic 80s stuff. Reid’s incendiary guitar leads blaze a path across the disc beginning from the riff to “The Secret Frequency” to “Overcoming.” “Unimportance” carries the oddest riff with unison guitars and lead synth creating a memorable obtuse melody line and freest jamming on the disc. “No Pistolas” takes an unexpected Hispanic musical turn which Logic has an easy handle on as well. The most successful intersection points between sampling technology and acoustic guitar occur on the pieces, “Shape 4,” “30 Spokes” (a cool groove piece), and the delta blues influence on “Shape 4.” The duo also embraces light jazz and dance beats with “Anchor,” where rapper Taylor McFerrin gives us the low down. Overall it’s a brainy concoction that Logic and Reid have made for fans of who don’t mind pushing their boundaries a little in the NY downtown scene.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 31, 2004 releases

Related artist(s): Yohimbe Brothers

 

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