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from >> Fog exorcises his demons on wax
Perhaps one of the most difficult records that I’ve had to get my mind around was released on Ninja Tune late last year, proving that even the most depressing and pathetic self-loathing artist can find an audience that will listen. Fog’s introspective, self-titled debut is a sloth-like lyrical drag through the mud that showcases the multi-layered turntable prowess of 23-year-old Andrew Broder, aka Fog. After his buddy Dose from Cloudead was good enough to pass a CD along to the Ninja brass while in London for some press, Broder joined a slew of leftfield visionaries as the newest signee to Ninja Tune. “I sent to some other labels,” he explains, “but I never heard back from anyone. I guess I was always pretty bad at trying to whore myself around.” Born out of the same Midwest hip hop scene that spawned Dose and some Anticon personalities, Fog’s approach, although decidedly dark and pessimistic, is the genuine article. “I am, I was, and I’m also not the guy that you hear on the record,” he points out. “Yeah, it’s a dark record, but it’s a very honest record, and that darkness happens. It doesn’t stop manifesting itself once you put a record out about it. It’s always kind of giving you different shit to deal with. It’s a blues record more then anything.” Well, when he puts it that way, it makes a hell of a lot more sense to me than it did in the first place, and that’s for damn sure. With songs like “We’re a Mess,” “The Smell of Failure” and “FuckedupFuckup,” maybe you shouldn’t be listening to this if you’re on some sort of medication, but that’s just my opinion. Fog, though, seems very serious about turning his negatives into 12-inch positives. “I don’t want to be afraid or self-conscious about writing about that stuff, or exposing that stuff, because I’m real concerned about keeping myself honest as a musician. There’s humour and sarcasm in there too, and hopefully a sense of hope. The fact that the record was done is hopeful for me.” : With Sixtoo and DJ Luv at Casa del Popolo on Saturday, July 13, 9pm, $10 >> Music Listings |
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SCOTT
C