The first release from an
Antipop Consortium member following the dissolution of the group,
Tomorrow Right Now is a catchy but challenging mix of
Beans' almost academic flow and crisp, unlikely samples and electronics. "Phreek the Beat" crosses reggae with simple loops for a disarmingly lo-fi groove; "Mearle" employs ominous drones and freaked-out vocals that are closest to
DJ Shadow on his masterpiece
Endtroducing; "Crave" is a banger that joyfully pushes the limits with a straight-up rap and beatbox, and "Hot Venom" layers old-school rhymes over tricked out sounds straight out of
Aphex Twin and
Autechre. With
Tomorrow Right Now,
Beans proves to be the perfect hip hop artist for Warp Records. Though he's never as instantaneously gratifying as
the Streets,
the Roots, or
Jurassic 5, his efforts to continually defy convention in both production and lyrics -- simultaneously looking forward to electronics and back to days of good rhymes, talent and passion -- make for a rewarding, maybe even educational, listen.