The Woodcut Crew: Woodcuts

By RUSSELL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * * *)

This vibrant hip-hop, R&B team effort comes all the way from Karangahape Rd. It's an introductory compilation for Offcut Records via Woodcut Studios with resident producer Juse at the funky helm of the 15 tracks and adding a few of his own. The songs wander from the wobbly bottomed pop infectiousness of opener Shake'm (with Mace at the microphone) and 2 Can (care of resident soul-diva Jorge, who also shines on Don't Rush) through the Pasifikan hip-hop of Coconut Sauce and rapper Wordperfect's ambling Real Life Real to some lavishly upholstered instrumental dub excursions.
It's quite the variety show, but it is a cohesive album and the talents within suggest that Woodcuts will be producing many a chip off the old block.

Label: Offcut/Global Routes