MF Doom: Metal Fingers Presents - Special Herbs Vol. 5 & 6 (2LP, apple red vinyl) [RHYMESAYERS]

Why you'll love it

Rhymesayers' 2LP set on apple red vinyl, in a custom die-cut jacket with printed sleeves. Thirteen more Metal Fingers instrumentals, from "Pennyroyal" and "Lavender Buds" to "Dragon's Blood."

This edition

• 2LP set on apple red vinyl
• Custom die-cut jacket with printed sleeves
• Rhymesayers / Metal Face pressing (cat# RSE0384-1)
• Thirteen instrumentals over four sides

About the album

MF Doom's Special Herbs series is the closest thing to a look inside his workshop. Under his producer alias Metal Fingers, he named each beat after a herb, root or blossom and let the music speak for itself, no rhymes needed. By the middle volumes he was deep in his stride, pulling loops from soul, jazz, lounge and old library records, chopping them with a craftsman's ear and a cartoonist's sense of mischief. Plenty of these beats went on to carry his own verses and those of his collaborators.

Volumes 5 and 6 are some of the warmest in the series. "Pennyroyal" floats along on a lazy, sunny loop, "Orange Blossoms" and "Jasmine Blossoms" are as sweet as they sound, "Coffin Nails" and "Black Snake Root" bring the menace, and "Dragon's Blood" and "Patchouly Leaves" close things with a heavy, head-nodding swing. It is the kind of record that works whether you are writing rhymes over it or just doing the washing up. Doom fans will spot old friends throughout. Herbalists, less so.

Tracklist

Listen

On Rhymesayers / Metal Face (cat# RSE0384-1), a reissue of the Metal Fingers instrumental series.