Digable Planets - Blowout Comb (Dazed & Amazed Blue / Gold Vinyl)

1994's Blowout Comb by Digable Planets is named for the combs used to maintain an Afro hairstyle, and that's significant. The group's Ishmael "Butterfly" Butler said it summed up what they wanted to do with it: "it means the utilization of the natural, a natural style".

Following the gold-selling commercial success of their debut album, Reachin' (A New Refutation of Time and Space), Digable Planets here set out to prove their artistic prowess. This is intelligent, alternative hip hop that sounded like party music. Its lyrics are dense with wit, social commentary and politics - and its original inner sleeve was modeled on the newspaper of the Black Panther movement.

Its instrumentation includes sax, vibraphone and flute. Its samples - gathered from global cratedigging trips while touring the first album around the world - included Grant Green, Eddie Harris, Shuggie Otis and jazz-funk pioneer Roy Ayers (whose "We Live in Brooklyn, Baby" became "Borough Check" here). And yet at the same time its beats are infectious and its spirit undeniable.

Limited Edition 'Dazed & Amazed' BLUE / GOLD vinyl produced by Light In The Attic in 2022. Liner Notes by Larry Mizell Jr. US Import. Housed is open vinyl sleeve.

TRACKLISTING:

SLOWE'S COMB

1. The May 4th Movement Starring Doodlebug
2. Black Ego
3. Dog It
4. Jettin'
5. Borough Check
6. Highing Fly

AGENT 7 CREAMY SPY THEME

1. Dial 7 (Axioms of Creamy Spies)

NY 21 THEME

1. The Art of Easing
2. K.B.'s Alley (Mood Dudes Groove)
3. Graffiti
4. Blowing Down
5. 9th Wonder (Blackitolism)
6. For Corners