Fog - Fog

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Label: Ninja Tune
Country: UK
Released: 19 Feb 2002
Genre: Electronic
Style: Abstract

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The forward-thinking blokes at Ninja Tune give us the self-titled debut by Fog, a Minnesotan who blends hip-hop rhythms with indie-rock sensibilities. Fog actually shares a musical affinity with fellow hip-hoppers cLOUDDEAD, and although Fog veers away from MCs, they deliver with some impressive turntable work. The “try anything” attitude is refreshing, especially in this age of stale and predictable hip-hop, and the indie-rock vocals and guitar of “Pneumonia” contrast the slightly off-kilter drum rhythm. “Check Fraud” and “We’re a Mess,” likewise, deconstruct down-home ditties into something more than the sum of their stratches. But the aesthetic isn’t yet fully formed throughout, however; there are a few tracks with too many moments of aimless doodling (or worse, electric guitar solos like on “Hitting a Wall”), as if he had temporarily run out of ideas or, like on “Ghoul Expert,” those ideas are unfocused. (The solo on “Truth and Laughing Gas,” in comparison, actually leads to a climax.) But the haunting “Staring at the Dashboard” and the saddening “And Stay Out” both speak to what Fog does well.

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Tracklisting:

1 A Word Of Advice (1:51)
2 The Smell Of Failure (3:19)
3 Pneumonia (5:04)
4 Fuckedupfuckfuckup (2:25)
5 Check Fraud (3:17)
6 Hitting A Wall (3:23)
7 Fool (3:24)
8 Truth & Laughing Gas (3:08)
9 We're A Mess (3:35)
10 Staring At The Dashboard (2:34)
11 Glory (4:58)
12 Ghoul Expert (6:29)
13 And Stay Out (4:28)

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