From somewhere between the 1970s and a distant sonic future comes the musical vision of Baltimore’s Anthony Setola, a bassist with more than just playing on his mind. From the first two tracks—a Sly Stone cover and a Tower Of Power-style update on steroids—it’s obvious he’s studied the guys who made bass what it is today. But the further you get into this fascinating fusion of classic funk, modern hip-hop and acid jazz, you start hearing Setola’s production vision, in which he takes the work of the original cats not just to the next level, but to another groovy dimension entirely. The end result is not so much a solo bass showcase as a bass-and-groove-focused soundscape. Octave, filter, and goopy chorus bass effects (and some truly incredible drum programming) fly in and out of the thick rhythmic stew, but nothing shows up as gratuitous. The deal closer is the track “Hot Sizzle Meets Sylvester,” which exceeds its teasing title, and begins a 20-minute-plus three-track segue that closes the album with the musical statement of someone loudly announcing their arrival.
-Bryan Beller