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Review

Album Review: L'Entourloop - La Clarté Dans La Confusion

06/15/2022

by Steve Topple

Legendary members of L’Entourloop collective, King James and Sir Johnny, have returned with their third album – delivering "clarity amid confusion" across 20 sweeping tracks.

La Clarté Dans La Confusion ("Clarity in Confusion"), released via X-Ray Production, sees James, Johnny and Face B Productions hone the old skool hip hop-meets-reggae style they're known for – but also throw curveballs into the mix. It's not really Revival – as the hip hop style and overall production are throwback: the beats are hard, the instrumentation rich and the engineering vinyl style-focused; reimagining old skool DJ techniques in 2022.

The title track features N'Zeng and cements the hybrid flavour of much of the album. Calling Dancers featuring Alborosie and Promoe is straighter, old skool hip hop. Kabaka Pyramid features on Rock Mi Nice, moving into Revival territory with its hard hip hop drum line, reggae bubble rhythm and Pyramid's singjay.

Madzilla featuring Troy Berkley and Blabbermouf is near-pure hip hop with the guest artists giving exceptional performances. Eternal Roses sees Ken Boothe and Lion In Bed lean into reggae/dub more than hip hop. Florilège with Lyricson, Queen Omega and Red Fox builds on this with samples, synths, a dancehall bridge and on-point performances. But then Drop featuring Troy Berkley and Dope Saint Jude creates a brooding, trap-reggae track with its ominous bass. La Fleur De L'Âge featuring Degiheugi is back to hip hop-reggae.

People Is Massive sees General Levy give his signature, rapid singjay across a frantic jungle cut. Scoville Anthem with LMK, Reverie and Lady Chann almost feels like trip hop with its hard drum line but ominous bass and potent horns. Then Magistral featuring Bounty Killer and Berkley merges hip hop with an occasional flash of a dancehall clave.

Clin D'Œil featuring Dawa Salfati and The Architect is ambient, ethereal hip hop-reggae, while Get Back with Chali 2Na and N'Zeng moves into funky soul-led hip hop with its groovy horns and skanking guitars. Mana featuring Marcus Gad and JuJu Rogers moves back to hip hop-reggae - then Lift Up Your Head sees Berkley back for a third time, with O.B.F joining him across the same style but with the odd trap buzz roll and a double-time four-to-the-floor kick.

Way to Be Happy featuring Las Ninyas del Corro is straighter hip hop; Fi Di Yut with Blackout JA and Tippa Irie feels like an 80s sound system dancehall throwback; the brilliant Mumbai 808 featuring Manudigital sees Indian vibes meet modern soca, and Saga with Killa P, Flowdan and Big Red takes the eclecticism further with a trap-meets-soul affair.

The album closes with Downtown (Befour Steppa), returning it to its hip hop-reggae roots across an instrumental track.

Overall, the two stand-outs of La Clarté Dans La Confusion are the coupling of inventive music with potent political and social messages. But also, James, Johnny, Face B Productions and the guest artists' sheer musicality is off the scale: the quality of the compositions and performances are second-to-none, making La Clarté Dans La Confusion an essential addition to anyone's collection.

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