#bdbadnotgood

While Talk Memory, or BBNG V is generally billed and lauded as a return-to-roots, I believe they've transcended. Once again a trio at its core, BBNG have shied away—at least outwardly— from humble beginnings reinventing hip hop staples into honoring their heritage in Jazz music on their fifth release, but there is little here to suggest dredging up the past other than liberal use of electric guitar and strings. To that effect, the only real weakness of Talk Memory is that the nine-minute opener is the best track, but it's not exactly all downhill from Signal from the Noise's blistering guitar parts blossoming like a black rose out of the dissonance of its first few minutes. legend Laraaji lends his wisdom to palate cleanser Unfolding (Movement 73)'s ethereal atmosphere, but the boys owe more to Arthur Verocai, Brazilian jazz-funk virtuoso who adds a special radiance to most of these tracks whether it's the funk guitar or the angelic string arrangements. All in all, the stark black and mostly-white of the albums art reflects the glistening wisp wreathing BADBADNOTGOOD's most accomplished and mature standalone original work. (9/10)