Bliss n Eso are back bigger and better than ever with
a brand spanking new album - 'Day of the Dog'. The trio - a diverse
bunch comprising of American born MC 'Bliss', Australian born MC 'Eso',
and DJ 'Izm' of Moroccan heritage - has certainly come a long way since
forming in the late 1990s as three high-school students busting rhymes
at the local bus stop. In 2000, they burst onto a growing hip-hop scene
with the release of their debut EP, the aptly titled, 'The Arrival'.
With its thumping beats and smooth rhymes, the EP was quickly embraced
by the Australian hip-hop community, and Bliss n Eso was billed as an
outfit to look out for in the future.
Four years later, after a whole lot of hard work, and
a lot of fans hungry for some more Bliss n Eso magic, the trio released
their first full-length album 'Flowers In The Pavement'. Just like their
debut EP, the album struck a chord with the public, with the track 'This
is For You' gaining high-rotation not only on Triple J, but also on
commercial radio network NOVA FM. The song became the trio's second
mainstream hit, behind the classic 'Beer O'clock'.
The group's new album is certain to produce even more
mainstream success. A brilliant collection of 14 banging tunes, the
album showcases Bliss n Eso's work at its most refined. Each track is
infused with deep, funky beats, creative samples and catchy, sing-along
choruses, all of which are held together by Bliss and Eso's flowing
rhymes, and clever, well-thought out lyrics.
The intelligence of the artists is revealed on tracks
like 'Then Till Now' and 'Sickman's Medicine', which - like much of
the album - touch on hip-hop's place in modern society, particularly
in breaking down cultural, racial and social barriers. ("You gotta
understand me, I got to understand you, So we can stand together and
recognise a vision, This one love, one mic sets aside our differences.")
First single 'Up Jumped The Boogie' is a toe-tapping,
head-nodding affair - the kind of feel-good track that'll make you want
to immediately drop whatever it is you're doing and prance wildly around.
("Well have you heard about them boys from a foreign land, They're
gonna stroll across the globe with a mike in their hand, and they'll
putting it down the only way they know how - So sing it!…. La la
la la la la la la!")
Single contender 'Party At My Place' featuring Motley
from the UK, highlights the album's fun, laid-back appeal. Complete
with party-like background noises (a babbling crowd, flung-about bottle
tops, and of course, police sirens), the infectious track dishes up
a refreshing piss-take on parties and the crazy antics of boozed-up
party-goers.
Today, Bliss n Eso are hovering on the edge of national
stardom. The new album proves that this is no fluke. A host of headline
tours and strong support slots for the likes of Cypress Hill, Naughty
by Nature, Xzibit, Jurassic 5 and The Roots has helped the boys hone
their already sharp skills. Bliss and Eso's free-styling and beat-boxing
now matches it with the very best, whilst Izm's work on the decks is
cutting-edge. All up, the three make a formidable team - one that's
only going to get bigger and better with age and experience.
The new Bliss n Eso album 'Day Of The Dog' is in stores
now.
