01. Crazy Chase 02. Hmmm 03. Good Vibes 04. Nagasaki Narcoleptic 05. Invisible Frenchman 06. Mello Yello 07. Blown Away 08. Gaye Pride 09. Space Cadet 10. Newborn 11. Blue Ilan 12. Mentos Party 13. NoNoNoNoNo 14. Tickle Time 15. Courtship Ritual 16. The One 17. Sacred Music Originally from Massachusetts and currently based in San Francisco, Unagi has been making beats for about six years. His debut album, Unagi, delivers some of the dopest and engaging beats I've heard in a long time - really. A schooled musician, [piano, drums, trumpet, guitar and bass] Unagi has been influenced by Lonnie Liston Smith, Deodato and Hendrix, in addition to hip-hop producers D.I.T.C, Doom, X-Ray and Alchemist. Referred to as a 'beat CD', that classification hardly does it justice. All seventeen of these one to three minute songs have so much depth they can easily stand alone. Though rooted in hip hop, Unagi's beats definitely transcend the genre, infusing jazz, soul, roots, funk, and 80's-inspired synth. He has chosen to use some extremely unusual and old school samples, melded with dexterity, to produce an album that is both interesting and mesmerizing. Stylistically, songs range from straight up hip-hop heavily drenched in synth to soulful jams laced with keys and horns. A few of the tracks could easily be a part of a soundtrack to a 70's blacksploitation film. One of my favorite songs, 'Blue Ilan,' is an ultra laid-back jazzy joint that features a smooth sax over balmy guitar riffs and exists with a haunting trill. 'Mentos Party' [complete with timpani/kettle drum] conjures up images of The Love Boat meets Jamaican lounge. Another great track, 'Blown Away,' is a simple yet dramatic blend of sax and keys. A significant part of Unagi's appeal is the amount of emotion he is able to generate using relatively uncomplicated song structures. Although Unagi's self-titled album is an assorted composition, it's euphonious throughout thanks to a constant flow of relaxed, fluent beats. The insidious construction of Unagi's songs is impressive - more so when you consider the equipment that was used to make the record. The entire album was completed by playing a Dr. sample and drum machine by hand and playing some keys - all recorded on a cassette 4 track. Unagi has expressed an interest in working with MF Grimm, Monsta Island Czars, and Motion Man, among others. I'd love to see what a quality MC could do with these tracks. Captivating from beginning to end, Unagi is a solid groove CD. [Unagi's track 'Invisible Frenchman' also appears on Hip Hop Slam's Amoeba Music Vol. 4 collection, which features a variety of independent artists including Forest Fires Collective, Mr. Lif, and Equipto.] - Kristen Asklund