Review

Ugly Heroes

Ugly Heroes

Mello Music Group • 2013

While »Ugly Heroes« was running in the background, I fell asleep after having worked for three weeks non-stop. I dreamed that there was an »Übertrack« on this record, and apparently, it was all about god’s dog-days. When I woke up, I realized that it was just about the lord’s day off – but an »Übertrack«, nonetheless. For this project, producer Apollo Brown has teamed up with Red Pill from Detroit and Verbal Kent from Chicago. All the tracks are based on some of Brown’s best beats. In »Hero’s Theme«, Brown has placed a piano perfectly between snare and bass. »This Is Life«, on the other hand, adds a few more dreamy samples to his Boom Bap-Charme. And, as pointed out, »God’s Day Off« is above any other track on this record. Flow and beat are matched in perfect unison, while the instrumental starts building up in order to finally go absolutely crazy in the hook. Lyric-wise, »Ugly Heroes« works with a few chippings taken from everyday life, including the highs and lows that come with it: »You know, what I need – sweet love.« Neither Red Pill nor Verbal Kent turn out to be lyric-wizards, but instead, they come forward with a somewhat rational realism. It makes listening to Ugly Heroes quite enjoyable and comfortable, but then again it stands in the way of greater things. Because Apollo Brown, Red Pill and Verbal Kent can’t really come up with anything new this way. But then again – does it always take something new in order to be good? Sometimes it’s enough to be reassured of the good things already existing – like tracks so deep that they follow you into your dreams.