Casual Projects - No Rest

Fri 8th Aug, 2008 in Music Reviews

Following the release of their second album, No Rest earlier this year, Casual Projects, have been blowing away audiences across the country with their blend of funk-infused hip hop rhythms and uplifting rock melodies. And by the looks of it, there’s definitely No Rest for these guys any time soon.

The eight-piece live band hails straight from Canberra, bringing a truly unique sound out of the nation’s capital. Their second album is nothing short of brilliant, spreading positive messages through an upbeat mix of guitars, keys, sax, synths, drums, and rhythmic vocal harmonies.

Each one of the eight members of Casual Projects brings something equally entertaining to the table. There’s no shortage of talent in this crew – and most definitely, there’s no shortage of sound. With four vocalists, guitar, bass, drums, synth, sax, and a variety of strings including violin, viola, and cello, No Rest is an action packed funk-a-thon that will get you out of your seat and grooving.

The opening track, naturally entitled Music, starts off with a jazzy freestyle on guitars, keys, and drums. The faint sounds of vocals drift off in the distance, giving an organic feel to the funky guitar riffs. That is, until the volume pumps up and all four vocalists break through in full force. The energy from these guys just doesn’t seem to fade throughout the rest of the album.

No Rest isn’t one of those discs that requires skipping tracks in order to find the good ones, as they’re all good. As soon as you hit track four, you’ll know what I mean. Move Along is a hit single – there’s no doubt about it. The catchy chorus shows strong vocal force, and jamming drums and horns pump up the energy of this song from start to finish. But, keep listening, because songs like Little Things, Going Off and Start Again show the genuine side of their songwriting skills, with poetic storytelling and intricately placed horn melodies.

In comparison to other funky Aussie hip hoppers such as TZU and The Cat Empire, Casual Projects’ tasty grooves are mature and unique, offering a fresh new sound to the Aussie hip hop scene. Luckily for these guys, their live performances are just as high-quality and upbeat as their studio recordings. So, if you’re searching for a fresh, new sound, be sure to pick up a copy of No Rest , and then catch them live to see these guys in action.