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Similar to De La Soul, experimental hip hop duo P.M. Dawn were reinventing the genre in their own style. Released in 1991, P.M. Dawn’s debut Of the Heart, Of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience is one of the few true heartfelt experimental efforts of hip hop in our time. The album shows a great swirl of hip hop, pop, and R&B. Each track within itself shows strong power with reflective introspective leading the listener on a catchy tasteful poetic journey.

Tracks such as “Reality Used to Be a Friend of Mine,” “Even After I Die,” “In the Presence of Mirrors,” and “A Watcher’s Point of View (Don’t ‘Cha Think) are the most reflective on the album.

Although “Paper Doll” and “Set a Drift on Memory Bliss” (which was the unexpected sampled track of the 80’s hit “True” by Spandau Ballet) were the hits off the album, they don’t exactly define the album’s full justice. “Shake” is for sure the dancefloor track from the album, thanks to house producer Todd Terry.

By track to track, the songs float along like a river one sounding like R&B, the next sounding funky, the next being experimental, and so on. The aggressive funk smash “Comatose” really reminds me of three different songs. The drum track in the song reminds me of Coolio’s cover of Lakeside’s “Fantastic Voyage” and it also reminds me of Red Hot Chili Peppers cover of The Ohio Players hit “Love Rollercoaster.” At the end of the track, it reveals a bluesy slide guitar lick reminding me of Beck’s “Loser."

The most powerful tracks that are the best to define the album are “Paper Doll,” “In The Presence of Mirrors,” “On A Clear Day,” and the final track “The Beautiful.” The haunting deep intro lines of “The Beautiful,” (‘In a quest to become colorless, I exhault my eyes with a most profound trust, yet they are masters at deception. I wonder why a black four leaf clover, Prince Be sends a purple valentine again’) really show the true poetic, meaningful and demanding power this duo had at its time in hip hop. Ending the track with a funky guitar riff just even draws the track to be catchier.

With a blend of pop, hip hop, R&B, and even psychedelic experimentations, Of the Heart… remains as a undiscovered fossil of hip hop that was way ahead of its time… It’s still ahead of our time! I suggest not any, but all hip hop fans to have a taste of The Utopian Experience.

5 out of 5

[Recommended tracks: “Reality Used To Be A Friend Of Mine,” “Paper Doll,” “A Watcher’s Point Of View (Don’t ‘Cha Think),” “In The Presence Of Mirrors,” “Set Adrift On Memory Bliss,” “On A Clear Day,” “The Beautiful”]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AOVf9p9ht4



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zzxCrO_oPI



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30RX1yi2V9c&NR=1

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