Murderbot, Chrissy / Women’s Studies

Planet Mu

Chrissy Murderbot’s first album for Planet Mu should come with the warning “Be Prepared to Sweat.” The last few years have seen Murderbot working hard on the optimum formula for getting down and having fun. Women’s Studies is an album of party-starting, populist mutations with vocal contributions from a host of dancehall MCs and rappers. It’s made with a brazen and unashamed love for dance music, mixing energetic tropes into a sticky tropical punch. The influences of ghetto house and juke from Murderbot’s home of Chicago hang over the album. Opener “Break You Off” builds a nighttime atmosphere from Rhodes chord progressions and sexy vocals over tight, rolling footwork drums and bass—it’s like a 160-BPM musical massage. Later on, “Bussin Down” continues the festivities with a sped-up, grooving funk sample over which DJ Spinn gives the orders. Elsewhere, the seesawing bassline and 8-bit melody of “Heavy Butt” gets the message across loud and clear, while the impressionist footwork of “Jiggle” is probably the most jiggling piece of music ever recorded.  “New Juke Swing” mixes the crunchy drums one might find on a Teddy Riley production with an early grime bassline, while Rubi Dan acts as master of ceremonies. “The Vibe Is So Right,” featuring MC ZULU, pits chopped breakbeats against big basslines at funky house speed. Things get decidedly early ’90s on “Under Dress,” a strange amalgam of acid and new jack swing, with Warrior Queen dropping some filthy lyrics. The album’s poppiest moment, “Sweet Thang,” features Coool Dundee and Johnny Moog in an inspired, high-speed mix of jungle, electro and soul vocals.

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