DJ Krush - 深層 "The Message at the Depth"
A review of 深層 “The Message at the Depth”, DJ Krush’s 2002 descent into industrial found-sound — and home of the track Monkey Radio knew only as “Kanji.”
Artist: DJ Krush · Year: 2002 · Rating: ★★★½
The Message at the Depth is a good album, but it’s not what I think of when I think of DJ Krush, particularly in the first half.
The album launches with water-themed ambient sounds into a breakbeat; similar (shorter) interludes punctuate the album at several points. The first half of the album has a decidedly industrial theme; of particular note is track 2, “Toki no Tabiji (Journey of Time),” which was present on Monkey Radio under the moniker “Kanji.” Here Krush’s scratching accompaniment to the Japanese vocals is almost unrecognizable against the metallic found-sound music and widely varying reverbs.
The heavily experimental and industrial tenor continues until the album pivots on Song for John Walker (track 6):
The names of prominent families carry no weight in foreign cities
And even the sons of senators receive no welcome outside the states.
The lyrics and melody here still feel experimental, but (unlike, in my opinion, earlier tracks) the experiments work: the song is catchy but unpredictable, and easily the most unusual track on the disk. Afterwards, the album resolves into a much more familiar rhythm.
The second half
After another interlude we settle into much more predictably “Krush” tracks, with guests providing a sampling of different varieties of triphop against comfortably ominous beats. If there’s a criticism of the second half, it’s that by the time What About Tomorrow’s pop-friendly dub wraps, we’ve perhaps entered “too safe” territory. This doesn’t stop the other Monkey Radio track, “But the World Moves On,” from being a highlight: the melody stands out with impressive, jazzy lines against menacing beats. The track sounds almost like something of of Ki-Oku.
The verdict
深層 “The Message at the Depth” is a hard album to rate: it features some amazing tracks (and wonderful collaborations) but one rarely is looking for discordant found-sound industrial music when reaching for DJ Krush. It feels like it tells a story, but after a couple listens I’m more likely to pick and choose tracks rather than play it end to end. As such, I’ll level a 3.5 star rating on this disk: it’s a great album, but not a Krush favorite.
Monkey Radio Tracks: 2/11
- DJ Krush - Toki No Tabiji (Journey of Time)
- DJ Krush - But the World Moves On
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