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Headzache - Group Therapy CD [Panic Room]
Headzache - Group Therapy
Tracklist:
1. Welcome To Headzache
2. Malice Chapter
3. Just Three
4. The Pick Up (Skit)
5. Bad Memories
6. 7even Letters
7. Showdown For The Good Guys
8. So When You Listen
9. Not For The Faint Hearted
10. Six 6 Six
11. Fast Food (Skit)
12. Four Reasons
13. Gotta Stay Tru
14. On The Brink Of Madness
15. High Tide
16. Mug Shots
Last year the Iron Bridge crew burst on to the scene and made quite a lot of noise. Unfortunately that all passed me by except for Gutta's Autonomy EP, but now other members of their extended crew have put together their 16 track debut LP and it is through this that I'm picking up on the things happening in deepest Essex. Crew members Ennicee, Jaimez, Mistah Toe and DJ Pager have put together something which for me sounds well recorded and is delivered to the consumer in a professional looking package. To my ears the sound is perhaps a touch dated, but that isn't stopping me from feeling some of the tracks available on here. They have also enlisted much of the local talent to appear on guest spots as well. Crews like Iron Bridge and Ill Psychosis crop up as do Ill Son, Backlash and old time vet of Gunshot days - Blokey.

Now the group seems to have four core members, but to be honest each of the members of this Essex clique seem to be in a multitude of groups including Ill Psychosis, Ironbridge and any number of other outfits I'm not aware of. They need to be careful to not spread themselves too thin across too many projects, or to give a false impression of the depth of talent in their area. I would like to see a family tree of the connections between these heads as I bet it would be more circular rather than linear.

Ennicee and Tekneek seem to be the main rappers and JaiMez and MistatoE handle the production and cuts respectively. Ennicee and JaiMez first hooked up in school when they were about 14 and started making tracks. Ennicee frequently having the darkness of his lyrics commented on and JaiMez seemingly is more of a joker.

It was around the age of 12 when MistahtoE fist started playing instruments and getting into collecting vinyl. Since then he has been around the block a few times having been central to several crews DJing both in the Midlands and West Yorkshire since 1995. When MistahtoE returned to Essex he hooked up with Tekneek who introduced him to Ennicee and JaiMez and the Headzache project really got moving.

Tekneek a.k.a Mr. Tek has been in and around the Essex environs spitting since 1993 and seems to be the one who is looking to network and put Essex on the map. He considers his rapping style to be more on the battle/ punchline tip but also feels he can flip a story.

Across the 16 track album the guys enlist the help of many of their local cohorts including: Ill Psychosis (I-ty, Shok, Jibbarish and Dirty Verbals), Ironbridge (Jibbarish and Dirty Verbals), DJ Pager, Ill-Son, Backlash and the old skool Blokey famous for his Gunshot connections.

The CD opens with some rain sounds and a trumpet fanfare backed intro in which the crew let you know who they are. The slow paced Welcome To Headache is a good intro as the rappers display their Essex accents and come over clear. It is a nice enough opening the only downfall being the way the Ennicee occasionally drop off the rhythm. Malice Chapter sees the Ennicee & Tekneek work together well as they finish off each others lines, the incessant string loop making for an evocative backing. Many of the tracks start off with a little spoken introduction. Just Three is no different, but as the strings drop in the first we hear is DJ Pager cutting up some classic vocals from the likes of Biz ad the Beastie Boys. This is a classic sounding track, but leaves you in now doubt where these guys come from with disses to the Blazing Squad and other local references thrown in.

The skit The Pick Up pokes fun at their Essex culture, where as Bad Memories is altogether much more serious. JaimeZ gets the snares going overtime for a old skool drum machine beat which is accompanied with old Run DMC type flows. 7even Letters could be one of the bangers to be found on here. A muted organ repeats like the organ motif in the Friday the 13th film if I remember correctly. The MCs like to occasionally twist the flow and chuck in he odd double speed phrase. Showdown For The Good Guys is where the group get dirty and get everyone on the track for the main posse cut of the LP. The looped guitar gives the MCs something to get grimey over. The gruff voices come out, but it is hard to take these Essex guys seriously when they put on this act. They are ripping the piss out of people that claim to go strapped, but in the next couple of lines claim they'll mirk up mans if they go against them leaving them messy. There is too much contradiction in what they say and the only way to take this seriously is to assume that they are fantasising.

Not For The Feint Hearted flips up the NT break, but Six 6 Six is altogether more accomplished, however there isn't really any track that stands out as a serious single contender. I-Ty comes sweet on this and I would like to hear more of his flows. On Four Reasons JaimeZ hooks up a great relevant vocal sample, 'I got Headaches' with the cuts on this one provided by Illson. The LP is very straight forward hitting all the Hip Hop buttons, but to me lacks a bit of Funk. Despite the guest appearances Ennicee is able to hold it down, but can resort to weak lyrics including the well overused 'feel you like braille'.

On On The Brink Of Madness Ennicee breaks down how his relationship is falling apart and how his girl is driving him mad. This is something we can all relate too and works better than when the crew are putting on an act. It is usually the case that people come over better if they speak from the heart. The pen-ultimate track High Tide picks up the pace a touch and benefits from this, being more sited to Ennicee's flow. Beach sounds, a piano and seagulls are crafted together by JaiMeZ for a great arrangement. To round off the LP Mug Shots enlists the help of Blokey. What could have been a funky sample seems to have this element stripped out and the same feel of the rest of the tracks pervades.

The package is well put together for an indie label just starting out, but the cover does look a touch anonymous. The CD booklet put together by Boss looks slick and contains the detailed production credits as well as a two page collage of photographs of the group and their thanks. To follow up the "GROUP THERAPY" album, the next release for Headzache's Ennicee is a solo album entitled "Mind Mechanics" packed with hard edged lyrics with a dark and grimy delivery and production by JaiMez, this will be a break between Group Therapy and the next Headzache album as JaiMez will also be concentrating on collaborating with other artists in and around Essex. This album will also offer guest appearances from Producers like, Ill-Son, Pager and I-Ty, this will hopefully drop early part of 2004.

Corrections to the above review.

Apologies to Headzache and Tekneek for the factual errors included in the above review which both Tekneek and Ennicee have pointed out to me. I am happy to correct this and am only sorry that I was not able to do this sooner.

Panic Room Records, PO Box 2066, Leigh On Sea. Essex, SS9 1WG
http://www.headzache.com :: mailto:[email protected]
Related links: http://www.illpsychosis.com :: http://www.ironbridgerecords.com
 
Intro Early Doors:
1979-1985		 False Dawn:
1985-1990		 Underground Years:
1990-1995		 The Renaissance:
1995- 2000		 The Future:
2000 & Beyond		 Artists &
Discographies

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