I'm listening to the album The Intergalactic Slapstick and can't help but think about how in comparison to his past work, Liquid Stranger has gone through some significant evolution. On his last album, The Invisible Conquest, Liquid Stranger's sound was rooted strongly in dub and a sort of trademark northern west coast US electronic psychedelia. I'll bet if I gave you one guess you'd figure out what direction that evolution went in.

1. Hiding in The Morning Mist
2. His Fully Automatic Wheelbarrow
3. Dance On The Pettles Avoiding the Nettles
4. Soundboy Killa
5. Full Metal Jacket
6. Tantrum (feat. Brother Culture)
7. Dub Missile
8. Mutants (feat. Warrior Queen)
9. Rough Road (feat. Brother Culture)
10. Hexed and Perplexed (feat. Deeyah)
11. Bodily Needs
12. Lotus
13. Dew Point

Yeah, Liquid Strangers evolution took on a heavy dose of dubstep influence. You won't notice it right away though, and it isn't English dubstep, this is west coast US dubstep. It's similar, but different. Actually, it's a little softer around the edges. As you trip through "His Fully Automatic Wheelbarrow" you'll hear the Liquid Stranger you know and love. Even with the next song, "Dance on the Petals...", you'll hear the slow moving, deep, dub basslines, and worldly (as well as otherworldly) experimentation that have been the tenants of Liquid Stranger's sound.

It isn't until "Soundboy Killa" that you start to pick up on the distinctive, warbling bass of dubstep's influence. This song solves one problem a lot of dubstep has. It includes the vital contributions of the MC. Without those vocals layered on to bring the whole sound into focus, I'm not afraid to say dubstep is pretty boring. But this is by no means a dubstep album. On Slapstick the balance is pretty even between new and old influences, and that, with some great vocal contributions, really makes for a deep and always surprising listen. Songs like "Full Metal Jacket" and "Hexed and Perplexed" really demonstrate the surprises and depth perfectly.

Whether your flavor is dub, dubstep, dancehall, or experimental world, The Intergalactic Slapstick should be on your list of must-haves. Great work here.

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