After three long, quiet years Nikk and Hi-Tekk, collectively known as La Caution, returned with their brand new double album "Peines de Maures / Arc en Ciel Pour Daltoniens". Known for their left-of-the-centre approach to hip hop, and music in general, the duo have been capturing ears and minds alike ever since their 2002 debut album "Asphalte Hurlante".
With an intriguing blend of drum n bass, electro, funk, punk, whatever other genre you could come up with, and hip hop, they have been able to attract world wide respect by fans of both eclectic musical styles and hip hop fans. They've also caught some flack for not sounding like your average boomboombap hip hop group, but hey, you can't have it all, can ya?
On "Peines De Maures - Arc En Ciel Pour Daltonien", a double album totalling 31 tracks, they compiled two different CD's full of industrial tracks and over the top flows. The more hip hop orientated disc of the set, "Peines De Maures", the duo might actually gain them some more die hard hip hop fans with titles such as the undeniable "Player" and the single "Thé A La Menthe".
Other titles such as "Pilotes Automatiques" and "Ligne De Mire" should satisfy every and any hip hop fan with great lyrics and beats. Unlike "Peines De Maures", "Arc En Ciel Pour Daltonien" is a little less accessible. The partition of the album in two discs enables the group to offer two different sides of their artistic interest without alienating any part of their (potential) fan base. Those who prefer straight up hip hop with a surprising twist will love the first instalment of the two disc set.
Those who loved La Caution's earlier experiments with music and flows will salivate by listening to the second part of the album, "Arc En Ciel Pour Daltonien". This disc continues the path they walked with earlier projects like "Crash Test". The more electric and eclectic sound of the album might scare away some listeners, and at the same time it will catch some music fans outside the hip hop public by surprise and put them onto something totally new.
"Peines De Maures - Arc En Ciel Pour Daltonien" is a logical progression from their former projects and shows the growth of Nikk and Hi-Tekk on both musical and lyrical content.
La Caution walks the thin line between the music which keeps hip hop heads happy and the eclectic music which gets white people with thick black frames on their glasses happy. So you might hear "Pilotes Automatiques" coming from the speakers of some high society art gallery and, two blocks down the street, some hip hop kids could be banging "Thé à la menthe" in their '86 hooptie. And that is exactly what makes La Caution a really good group.
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