Review: Planet B ‘Fiction Prediction’
Planet B‘s 2018 self-titled debut featured a number of guest artists including prominent names as Kool Keith and Martin Atkins (PIL/Killing Joke/Pigface). This long-awaited follow-up sees the trend continuing with guest appearances from D-Styles (Invisibl Skratch Piklz), and the sadly departed Gabe Serbian (The Locust) and Eric Livingston (Mamaleek), RIP.
The band haven’t been completely idle seeing as they found time to work with the aforementioned Invisibl Skratch Piklz and ADULT. as well as put out a cover of M.I.A.‘s Bad Girls. So, is Fiction Prediction worth the wait? Let’s see…
Dick On The Dance Floor nods to Death Grips with a musical approach that will serve as something of a litmus test for some. If you aren’t put off by the opening track’s purposely obnoxious tones then you are amply rewarded for your efforts with Clogged Sync, a quirky synth-punk number of The Screamers and Nervous Gender persuasion. Throw in some Residents style eccentricity for good measure and you have the ingredients for something quite exceptional.
The Baader Review is somewhat audacious featuring, as it does, handclaps that give the track a bubble gum pop/new wave twist ala Toni Basil’s Hey Mickey. In fact, it’s not a million miles away from the aforementioned excellent cover of Bad Girls. The Bad Review is a variation of the previous track and is only available on the digital variation of the album. It’s a brief acapella number with mad vocal tics that might be associated with Mike Patton. Fun but far from essential. The Bouquet is more hip-hop orientated with some awesome scratching, I was reminded of the late DMX and his bombastic approach to the genre on tracks such as X Gon’ Give It To Ya, Planet B certainly do and successfully too.
absolutely infectious…
Terrible Purpose is industrial laced hip-hop goodness featuring Rick Scales (18scales) and recalls Biohazard’s New World Disorder. Unlike Biohazard, however, there’s a better flow and it doesn’t feel as ham fisted either. Pearson makes for a pretty decent MC too, good work JP! Horror Movie Called Civilization has a cool drum and bass vibe to it, at university I’d have run a mile from such sounds but with age comes a more open mind.
Filthy Suitcase will have your head bobbing from the minute it commences, it’s absolutely infectious. Its grooves can’t be denied and even a steadily approaching 45-year-old man such as myself will be able to ‘get down’ to this beaut. Goals Gone Wild reminds one of early Beastie Boys during their fratboy pomp, both with the AD-Rock nasal vocal style as well as the title being a cheeky take on the controversial adult franchise Girls Gone Wild.
Rack More Brains feels heavier with an overall metallic sheen and a darkness that brings to mind the fantastic duo Dälek while Unreal Estate again betrays an Industrial influence with creepy electronics that come across like a streetwise Nine Inch Nails, I ain’t complaining. Let Me Explain This Again is a little more low key, one would venture to say mournful or even gothic in tone. Seeing as the track features the late Gabe Serbian, this seems eerily appropriate and a fitting conclusion to the album.
Justin Pearson is seemingly always on the go, whether it’s running Three One G, playing live, or releasing records, this time with Planet B. How he finds the time is anyone’s guess, but when you love what you’re doing it’s never work, but a passion. This is a worthy successor to the 2018 debut and one which will appeal to industrial/hip-hop heads all over the globe.
Label: Three One G Records
Band Links: Facebook | Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram
Scribed by: Reza Mills
