A trans-Tasman collaboration between Aussie DJ/musician Kayboku and Kiwi MC Emerald McGill, ‘Amalgamation’ can vaguely be described as NZ island vibes meets big city Melbourne life. But it’s more than that – a combination of slightly laidback, conscious lyricism meeting in-your-face bangers and hip hop/dubstep/dirty electronic beats. With other collaborators, good rhymes and great turntable sounds, this is sharp, focused and refreshing. Producer for The Wednesday Experiment, Kayboku also DJs for female hip hop groups Indigo Rising and Bahdoesa. On the first track Big City Hippy, Emerald refers to herself, giving props to her musical partner. On Zen, another clever pisstake (featuring didgeridoo and dubstep), they are joined by The Wednesday Experiment. Sonic Entity features Tara Walsh with faster rhymes. It’s more political and has some added tabla and Indian vibes. By the time we get to Brunswick In Nairobi (African/French-feel hip hop), we also hear the involvement of Vulivuli, Alana J and Rick Steward. If you don’t like hip hop, this won’t do anything for you, but if you do, this is absolutely delectable. Proper urban – not black, not white, but various colours of the world, made all the better by the strong presence of several wahine!