Review: Aim, Hinterland

Aim’s acute sense of mood and soul is that of a true beat master.

Aim, HinterlandAim (a.k.a. Andy Turner), renowned producer discovered by Mark Rae of Rae & Christian, returns with his second album, Hinterland. The product of an intense home studio voyage, the album is an organic experience that mixes rap, uptempo funk and chilled-out bliss. Kate Rogers, who appeared on Aim’s debut, Cold Water Music, reprises her songstress role this time around on the sublime “The Girl Who Fell Through the Ice.” Other special guests include Diamond D of Digging in the Crates (the haunting “The Omen”), Stephen Jones (the potential summer anthem “Good Disease”) and Oakland’s Souls of Mischief (flipping tempos and rhyming with superb fluidity on “No Restrictions”). Turner, first introduced to the joys of music by his father Terry (of the Terry Turner Jazz Quartet) and influenced by a wide array of artists including Naughty By Nature and the Smiths, claims that Hinterland reflects his perpetual feelings of being on the outside. That said, the album is as contemplative as it is progressive, its 13 tracks tinged with soulful grooves, trip-hop-infused balladry and emotive melodies. Aim’s acute sense of mood and soul is that of a true beat master.

Score: 
 Label: Grand Central  Release Date: February 26, 2002  Buy: Amazon

Sal Cinquemani

Sal Cinquemani is the co-founder and co-editor of Slant Magazine. His writing has appeared in Rolling Stone, Billboard, The Village Voice, and others. He is also an award-winning screenwriter/director and festival programmer.

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