Neighborhood Science

Arnold, John: Neighborhood Science Label: Ubiquity

The more I listen to this CD, the more I realize that I’ve become too used to house music – the consistent 4-4 beat and formulaic loops that is easy to dance to. This is not house, but a mix of broken beat w/ R&B stylings. This is the latest, I’d say, in “urban soul” – that’s not based on the same house/disco formula. There is a lot more experimentation, electronically, and the beat programming is a lot less predictable. I like it. Try: 2,4,7,8.

1. broken beat, insistent analog bass, R&B vox
2. big broken-beat, tweaky analog electronics, robo vocals, retro-funk
3. funky soul w/ a melancholy touch
4. grindin’ bass, tech-y broken beat, cool electro-ish flava
5. mellow downtempo funk instrumental, simple loops
6. downtempo, w/ spacey synth, broken-beat, w/ electronic blippies
7. soulful deep-house w/ kind of a broken-beat, I like the melodies here
8. funky beat patterns & a catchy analog synth melody that builds up
9. almost a new-age-y harp sound laid on to snappy drum breaks, nice