Following the surprise success of Dudley's "Flowers(1)" 7 inch, Madlib and Perkins deliver a full length look into their experimental late night minds. Although unaccomplished as a "singer," years of emceeing as Declaime have honed Dud's vocal phrasing, and he stretches his voice, comfortably cracking, whispering, questioning. More unguardedly intimate than preachy conscious, A Lil' Light conveys naked emotion much like Mos Def's "Umi Says." YNQ appears on two tracks yet Madlib keeps production handclapping and straight ahead, especially on Side 4's "Just Think(2)." Side C's lead track "Falling(3)" plays like an open letter to soul searchers, contemplating the ills of Babylon. In interviews, Dudley has expressed the desire to collaborate with Quasimoto and the intros to this album's tracks are often decorated with loops, revved up vocal snippets, and the comfortable smokiness of Madlib's production from that era. Check the lead single "Money(4)," where Madlib's trademark dusty head nod meets D.Perkins' world-weary, layered vocals inna O-Jays style. Not something you'll be playing out (though "Flowers" got some run), but rather taking the dames (or fellas, girls do your thing) home to. 16 tracks on 2 LPs. For a limited time, this release comes with a free CD of the album's instrumentals.

reviewed by P Gorgeous