One Word Extinguisher

Prefuse 73's second album for Warp should be the one that catapultsScott Herreninto the programming firmament occupied by Warp mainstays likeAutechreandAphex Twin. A fascinating collection of glitchy breakbeats and inventive, melodic experimental techno, One Word Extinguisher is a set of electronica that's nearly as challenging asAutechre's relentlessly academic beat manipulation but just as funky and instantly gratifying as aFatboy Slimflag-waver. (Certainly those famous former b-boys inPlaidcould never hope to score a Foot Locker commercial.) But forget electronic music --Herrenis trying to take hip-hop to the next level with a vision of breakbeat music that, like the crunchy digital productions ofTimbalandandNeptunes, pushes hip-hop production into the future. Quintessentially '70s and '80s innovations like samplers and analog mixers are giving way to digital software and CD mixers, andHerrenwelcomes the changeover; "Huevos With Jeff and Roni," one of the record's three vocal tracks, features Def Jux'sMr. Lif"on a minisc mic." Not thatRussell Simmonsis about to jump on the Prefuse bandwagon, or aScott Herrenline of urban fashionwear is in the cards, but One Word Extinguisher means as much to the future of underground rap as it does to experimental techno. Skater hero and lo-fi mastermindTommy Guerrero, Ann ArboriteDabrye, and Plug Research's ownDaedeluseach stop by for intriguing co-productions.