Vishnu Schist unleashed 03/17/09! check myspace.com/beartheastronot, iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, & More! Or just hit up Bear the Astronot at beartheastronot@gmail.com to learn more!
Vishnu Schist is a rock formation most often exposed by the deep cutting currents of the Colorado River as it slithers through the hidden base of the Grand Canyon. It has been carbon dated to be 2 billion years old. A dark, nearly metallic, pitch black lava rock, void of any fossils, and almost alien in nature. Traces of ancient algae have been found within it, which are some of the only evidence of the first forms of life on earth. A perfect title for the first collaboration effort between Arizona's Bear the Astronot & Arsenic.
Vishnu Schist the E.P. is bursting with Arsenic's classic dark guitar laden sound. A witches brew of Hip Hop drum, Rock aesthetic, and synths devine. Arsenic does all the beats, Bear does all the vocals, and it works extremely well. Bear the Astronot ventures deeper into singing verse, and cutting flow, obviously finding fresh motivation in Arsenic's production. The E.P. starts with a distorted siren sound of a beat, and Bear the Astronot begins "I would never sleep with your girlfriend, if I did, would that make me a better MC?" An obvious outlash at the current state of Hip-Hop riding atop sexy female moans, and energetic drum and bass.
Vishnu Schist is a 6 song E.P. It is dominated by something of a Hybrid Hip Hop sound, but is still enjoyable to fans of Bear the Astronot and Arsenic's previous music. The 2nd track "Tonights Her Last Night" was something of a surprise. For a second I couldn't tell if I was listening to an undiscovered Canadian Indie Rock band, or the Arizona Hip Hop artists who's names were on the cover. All of the tracks come together in a wonderful E.P. that reminded me how fresh Hip Hop can still be. Michael Patrick-cygene mag
