With its dazzling sampling job, scruffy beats, and dark, ominous bass, 85 Decibel Monks are bringing the full Amon Tobin package on their latest trip hop single, ‘Square One Hop’, an instrumental that will get anyone’s ears perked with ease.
A group hailing from Iowa City, Iowa, 85 Decibel Monks were on a near 20 years hiatus from commercial releases. The group consists of the Chicago-born Timothy Tack, also known as TackFu, and Birmingham, Alabama-born multi-instrumentalist Chris Groves, also known as Grover Beats XL. ‘Square One Hop’ is the title of the group’s long-awaited instrumental release, and it is a piece that is jammed full of detail.
Defined by its timeless-sounding bass and drum part, beautifully sampled from what sounds like an old big band jazz recording, the drums are punchy and classical-sounding, while the dark-sounding bass is as menacing as it is grooving. On top of the essential groove that simply does not relent, the pair of musicians brings some exquisite organ chops that define the other half of the arrangement.
With its colorful, time-bending chops, and beautiful, timeless atmospheres, ‘Square One Hop’ is a terrific jam that’s lovingly put together by a pair of sonic architects who know exactly what they are aiming for.