Musically Massive . David Last vs. MC Zulu
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staubgold 95
2009. cd . dl
Taking a break from the grind of New York City, beatmaker David Last found himself living for a few weeks near a beach in Sydney, Australia. He was determined to make new tracks, far away from home. Having spent two years making club music almost exclusively, he was ready to lay back into the influence of dancehall reggae's slower tempos. Vocals were a natural choice.
For several years now, Zulu's unique dancehall vocals have been heard in collaboration with the likes of Ghislain Poirier, Kool Keith, and DJ C. A referral from grime-bounce mashup king DJ C led to an email exchange between Zulu in Chicago, and David in Sydney. In 14 hours, David Last and Zulu had completed their first track via email. The track was good enough that there was only one thing to do... make a whole album.
The record label Staubgold in Berlin, having hired Last to remix Kammerflimmer Kollektief two years previously, was keen to hear Last's new project. Staubgold listened, and within 24 hours the project was moving forward at full speed between Chicago, Sydney and Berlin. Like its birth, the sound is also distinctly international, funk without borders. It is influenced by both electronica and by reggae music, but it is officially neither. It feels like pop, but it blazes new ground in its rhythms and arrangements.
David Last vs. MC Zulu
"MC Zulu is one of the most talented ragga vocalists out there today, in the U.S. or anywhere." (Jake "DJ C" Trussell)
"David Last's sense of rhythm is as developed as any rap, dancehall, broken beat, or dubstep scientist's you'd care to throw up. Whereas most post-downtempo electronic music shifts the burden of interest to the melodic/harmonic, Last's swinging beats and liquid metal bass throw all the weight on the rhythm section." (pitchfork.com)
"A booming baritone voice that almost knocks you over. Whether he's spitting his signature line 'Spread the word!' or chatting political lyrics, Zulu's vocal presence is unmistakable." (xlr8r.com)