The mysterious musical entity known as Clutchy Hopkins is back! "Walking Backwards" is the follow up to the best selling, self released debut "The Life of..." and is packed with more of that sincere, instrumental downtempo goodness that is so rare to come across these days. I guess Clutchy has been doing pretty well for himself as this sophomore album was snatched up and put out by the good peoples at Ubiquity (good look). For the uninitiated, check "Para Los Ninos(1)," "3rd Element(2)," "Sound Of The Ghost(3)," "Rocktober(4)" and "Walking Skdawcab(5)" and get a feel for that moody, chilled-out West Coast Clutchy sound. My picks off the album would have to be the only vocal track - "Love Of A Woman(6)" which features the incredible soulful crooning of West Coast soul legend Darondo and "Last Time For Your Mind(7)" with its complex yet jazzy intrumentation and wicked guitar solos. This is the kind of album you can just put on and listen and vibe with all the way through without having to skip through off tracks (love full lengths like this). Fans of Ninja Tune, Bully, Memphix, Mo Wax, early Shadow, etc. definitely peep this. 12 tracks total, Recommended.

reviewed by snackmaster