Description
#prefuse73 #vinyl #vinylrecords
Guillermo Scott Herren, widely recognized under the alias Prefuse 73, has spent over two decades redefining the boundaries of electronic and hip-hop music. Emerging from the underground scene in the mid-1990s, Herren’s innovative approach has consistently pushed the limits of genre conventions, making him a pivotal figure in the electronic music world. With his latest release, New Strategies for Modern Crime Vol 1 and 2, Herren returns to explore new sonic landscapes, merging orchestrated arrangements with themes of media sensationalism and crime. This album, his first since 2018’s Sacrifices, marks yet another evolution in a career that has never ceased to surprise and inspire.
Herren’s journey began with a series of experimental releases under various monikers, but it was as Prefuse 73 that he truly found his voice. His debut album, Vocal Studies + Uprock Narratives (2001), was a groundbreaking work that blended glitchy electronic beats with fragmented vocal samples, setting the stage for what would become his signature sound. The album was a bold statement, carving out a new space within the electronic hip-hop genre, much like how artists such as Aphex Twin and Amon Tobin were simultaneously redefining their respective musical territories. Prefuse 73’s follow-up albums, including the critically acclaimed One Word Extinguisher and Surrounded by Silence, further cemented his reputation as an innovator, with intricate production techniques and unconventional time signatures that challenged listeners’ expectations.
Collaboration has always been a cornerstone of Herren’s work. Throughout his career, Prefuse 73 has teamed up with a diverse array of artists, from the late MF Doom and Ghostface Killah to avant-garde musicians like Sam Prekop and Helado Negro. These collaborations have not only expanded the sonic palette of Prefuse 73’s music but have also allowed Herren to explore the intersections of different musical worlds. In a similar vein to how Flying Lotus and Madlib have brought jazz and hip-hop together, Prefuse 73 has consistently merged electronic music with the ethos of hip-hop, resulting in a sound that is uniquely his own.
With New Strategies for Modern Crime, Prefuse 73 continues to push the boundaries of what electronic and hip-hop music can be. Drawing on influences ranging from lost soundtracks and musique concrète to jazz and beat-tape music, Herren crafts a sonic narrative that is both timely and timeless. His ability to blend disparate elements into a cohesive whole is reminiscent of the work of contemporaries like J Dilla and DJ Shadow, who similarly revolutionized the art of sampling and beat-making. As Herren’s musical journey continues to evolve, his influence on the electronic music scene remains profound, inspiring a new generation of producers to embrace experimentation and defy genre conventions.
