Cross-genre collaborations don't always land as expected. When combining riffs and rhymes, there's a high risk that descriptors like "rap-rock" and even "nu-metal" will creep up to cloud objectivity, recalling ghosts from the late '90s. On
Anything But Words, the debut effort from
Banks & Steelz, two seemingly disparate forces mesh so well that it sounds like they were meant to be together all along. In 2013,
Interpol frontman and self-professed hip-hop head
Paul Banks was introduced to
Wu-Tang Clan head
RZA, and after connecting, they formed a new project named after the main talents (one of
RZA's alter egos is Bobby Steels).
Banks brought his baritone and nocturnal post-punk guitar handiwork while
RZA injected his pristine hip-hop production skills and aggressive rhymes. The project benefits both men:
Banks hasn't sounded this good over a tight rhythm since
Carlos D. took his bass and left
Interpol, and
RZA -- invigorated and bursting with passion -- hasn't spit this hard in almost a decade. They elevate each other over 12 tracks that never lose momentum. The album starts hard and fast, with a one-two-three kick-off that justifies the whole
Banks & Steelz concept. "Giant" is the aptly titled first track, which sets the tone with an intensely earnest
RZA, a propulsive beat, and a soaring chorus by
Banks. It glimmers with programmed effects and polish courtesy of producers
John Hill and
Kid Harpoon. After the glitchy gem "Ana Electronic," the bass-heavy "Sword in the Stone" brings the heat, a jagged, menacing beast that features a standout verse from
Kool Keith and production from
Andrew Wyatt (
Miike Snow,
Bruno Mars,
Beck). Unexpected guest
Florence Welch lends her ethereal vocals to "Wild Season," which may sound like one too many cooks in this sonic kitchen but ends up being a highlight of the album. After an energetic and exciting first half,
Anything But Words slows down and adopts a near-trip-hop energy. The cool funk of "Conceal" undulates and seduces while "Can't Hardly Feel" pops like a chilled-out
Faithless track. The creeping "One by One," another highlight, channels
Massive Attack on a moody, slow-burning hypnotizer. Being a
RZA production, it's only natural that a few friends dropped by the recording session.
Wu-Tang fans will rejoice over the inclusion of a trio of welcome voices:
Ghostface Killah brings his formidable flow to "Love and War," while
Method Man and
Masta Killa close the album on "Point of View."
Anything But Words is a stellar and truly collaborative endeavor between two creative energies, the result of an organic songwriting process that is anything but thrown together. ~ Neil Z. Yeung