The Ankst label's continuing documentation of a Welsh music scene with its own wickedly funny and entertaining approach to a wide variety of styles continues with
MC Mabon's
The Hunt for Meaning. Like the other Welsh rap acts Ankst has signed, the good MC (aka Gruff Meredith) isn't out to simply clone transatlantic inspirations -- his accent comes through loud and clear, with a wry, witty power infusing both his performance and his words. Handling guitars and keyboards as well and with the help of a variety of guests, notably the three-person act Rocket Gold Star (which crops up on nearly every track), the MC whips up a thick, full-bodied musical collage. Though reminiscent of similarly minded genre-busters like
Beck and, closer to home,
the Beta Band,
MC Mabon has his own approach -- both easy-moving and sharp-edged (check out the ska rhythms on the frenetic "Cilboy Emcees") -- with just enough bite surfacing in the full mixes of beats, band jams, and looped textures. He has a rough but enjoyable singing voice as well, making the merry jaunt and skip of the bemusingly titled "People Are So Stupid" and the giddy, sprawling blast of "Fuck U If U Think You're Cool" a delight. Some of his vocal partners bring out a fine contrast -- MC Cilla Corkill's higher-pitched but no less defiantly Welsh turn on "Route" is quietly thrilling, while Rowena Lloyd's sly singing on the mutated disco of "Iago Prydderch" makes for good fun. One of the oddest but most successful combinations comes with "The Ballad of MC Barley Crusher," with the UK Chinese Festival Ensemble adding distinctly non-Western melodies and scales to a slow, murky beat. It's a woozy, massive head-nodder of a listen that then turns into a combination of war-front explosions and shouted orders topped with some straight-up garage rock chug and DJ chatter -- and why not? ~ Ned Raggett