Gas Dreams

he Living Legends crew have become synonymous with innovation, and Eligh, an against-the-grain MC/producer, is the embodiment of that philosophy. This release, much like his first two offerings, is stripped to the barest of essentials. A master minimalist, Eligh takes abrupt stylistic turns, but his most impressive attribute remains his ability to integrate a variety of instruments into his abstract soundscapes, without them sounding muddled. But Eligh is at a crossroads artistically with Gas Dream, as he is torn between the joy of making music to satisfy his creative urges while simultaneously having to deal with industry politics. It's clear that he realizes that his enlightening messages often fall on deaf ears, which he reveals poignantly on "What You Receive." While Eligh's LP's are at times a laborious listen, there are a few crucial momentum boosters here, including the dense "A Lesson Garden," on which an introspective Del details his growth process, and "Soul-Man," which features the underappreciated lyricism of Pep Love, and fellow Living Legend Grouch. ~ Matt Conaway|