Nothing To Declare blurs lines and wins minds with a sound clash of epic distortions. DJ Haram and Moor Mother have enjoyed a creative partnership since 2014, but this is their debut album under the 700 Bliss moniker.
Harnessing noise, beats, and monster bass, the duo transverse mountain ranges containing multiple peaks as hip hop and electronica are reshaped into unrecognizable, provoking shapes.
There is a laser focus on the melding of words with this rugged landscape; the lyrics are sung, rapped, and weaponized, but humour is never far away: the tongue-in-cheek self-critique of themselves is hilarious.
Guests bring more edge with Lawfandah’s svelte vocals providing a slither of light to the dark grime. But it is the slamming Anthology which will grab you first, as Moor Mother pays tribute to Katherine Dunham, the matriarch of black dance.
Compelling and joyful in equal measure.
