Nathaniel Pearl, the man also known as Natural Self caught our attention with the Broken Keys project he collaborated with Ben Lamdin (Nostalgia 77). On “The Art Of Vibration” he delivers once again with pulsating 60’s funk rhythms and 70’s break beats that evokes memories of the early hip-hop b-boy era. I definitely had a hip-hop flashback when I heard “Welcome To The Ascension”. The heavy percussion, the slick string rrangements and the well placed sampling make me wish that this track was much longer than three minutes. This is followed up with “The Rising”, this track has an afrobeat vibe and is layered with a chanting chorus and funky horns. An added bonus is the wonderful Antreya Triana on vocals. “Breathe Deep” is classic old school hip-hop. A simple mid tempo drumbeat with slick horn riffs serve as the perfect backdrop for MC Abdominal to spit over. “The Laws Of Motion” is a funky instrumental jam with sparse trumpet riffs and spacey chords. One thing is certain, Natural Self has beats galore and knows how to make funky grooves. “The Art Of Vibration” is a rewarding listening experience and further proof of his immense talents.
