http://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/album-reviews/3317003/CD-review-Flesh-Bones-Scalper

If you like the spooky intensity of Massive Attack and the paranoid ramblings of Tricky then you’ll like this: Meet Nadeem Shafi, a London-born New Zealand resident creating his own brand of brutally dark hip-hop under the name Scalper.

He’s been around for a while now and it’s taken time for Shafi, a former member of British act Fun-da-mental, to release his debut solo album, but it’s well worth the wait.

Thanks to the unsettling, Portishead-style trip-hop beats and frequent use of Middle Eastern strings, Flesh & Bones bristles with tension, and album opener Black Glory - with its warped samples and thudding production - sets up the album’s ominous atmosphere perfectly.

Shafi obviously has a chip on his shoulder and it’s his gruff vocals about “death knocking on that door” that shine in the bouncy ThreePointOneFour and makes Obsessive Idols darker than a funeral procession. Superior  instrumental Numbers sounds positively chirpy after the thrillingly moody Abacus.

The overbearing bleakness can get a little monotonous but if you’re looking for something to soundtrack a thunderstorm at 2am, Flesh & Bones is perfect.

By Chris Schulz.

Big Thanks to Nick D and Dean @ George Breakfast for the cool interview and support of Scalper. Peace.

Catch Nick D every weekday morning on www.georgefm.co.nz

Add the group “Scalper” and keep updated on Facebook. Peace.

Live interview with Nick D @ George Fm breakfast show. Tomorrow between 9.15am and 9.30am.

www.georgefm.co.nz

Scalper is Nadeem Shafi who was previously a vocalist in the exciting London mutli-culti hip-hop (and beyond) outfit Fun-Da-Mental.

These days he lives in New Zealand but little of the rather more benign South Pacific atmosphere intrudes on this dark, brooding and menacing mood-piece where his up-close and urgently delivered vocals speak of a spiritual fog, the horrors of war, bloodshed, fallen demons, fires of hell, betrayal …

This in places comes off like the Book of Revelations pulled through newsreels of Middle East conflict and the nightmares that would ensue.

While this would not be to everyone’s taste it is, because of the consistency of tone and vision, quite gripping and Scalper’s lyrics drag you in — and down. But it also has an oddly cathartic effect and it is not so much menacing as conjuring up of a disconcerting state of mind.

The political and spiritual subtexts throughout are evident, and it will be interesting to hear what he comes up with if he chooses to reflect on his new homeland with the voice of “an outsider”. My guess is it will be challenging … and important.

By Graham Reid

Added: 8 Feb 10

http://www.elsewhere.co.nz/music/2868/scalper-flesh-and-bones-border/

Thanks to MZA and RDU Christchurch for the interview and support of my music. Catch MZA on Monday Drive on www.rdu.org.nz

Scalper on RDU Christchurch. On air interview with Mza on her drive time show today Monday 8th Feb 2010.

www.rdu.org.nz

Big Thanks to Nabeel & Nik for having me on their show and playing my music today at Base Fm. Good fellas.

You can hear them on Saturdays 4pm to 6pm on the Basement www.basefm.co.nz

Thanks to Blair Stafford from www.straightup.com.au

and Kush from www.sbs.com.au/alchemy

for help spreading the vibes of Scalper over there. Peace.

Big Blessings to Stinky Jim for the early and ongoing support. Thanks.

You can catch his show Stankng out them flavours on Tuesday nights 9pm to 12am on www.95bfm.co.nz

Streaming online

www.myspace.com/stinkyjim

Thank You Very Much to Troy Ferguson @ 95 BFM and Tommy Flowers @ Base FM for the live interviews on your shows today.

www.95bfm.co.nz

www.basefm.co.nz

The new album will be available on www.iTunes.com/scalper from Monday 8th February 2010.

Also in all major and Independent music stores across Aotearoa New Zealand.

I am in process of setting up Paypal for overseas buyers who would prefer to own the physical album with cool artwork etc.

Thanks for the support. Peace. Scalper