Performer Notes

Additional personnel: GZA , Ghostface Killah, Aesop Rock, Masta Killa, Beans, Broadcast, Caf? Tacuba (rap vocals); DJ Nobody (turntables); Claudia Deheza, Alejandra Deheza, Tyondai Braxton, Kazu, Camu.
Photographer: Gracia Villamil.
On the ambitious SURROUNDED BY SILENCE, producer Scott Herren fully embraces his inner hip-hop tendencies to deliver a sprawling, guest-laden release. A 21-track opus, SURROUNDED BY SILENCE features appearances from celebrated New York MCs Ghostface and El-P (on album standout "Hide Ya Face"), Masta Killa and GZA ("Just the Thought"), and Beans ("Morale Crusher").
Fortunately, for fans of the Prefuse 73 tag, Herren doesn't completely abandon his past formula. Instrumental tracks such as "Expressing Views Is Obviously Illegal" and "Minutes Away Without You," where Herren loses himself in an atmospheric world of jazz and glitch-hop, recall the sound of ONE WORD EXTINGUISHER. Furthermore, Herren recruits female vocalists to add yet another dimension to the proceedings. Claudia and Alejandra De Heza of On!Air!Library! ("Pastel Assassins" and "It's Crowded") and Kazu Makino of Blonde Redhead ("We Got Our Own Way") use their distinctive voices to create some of the most melodic tracks Herren has produced. SURROUNDED BY SILENCE is a dense, almost overwhelming release at first, but listeners who exercise patience are certain to be rewarded.

Professional Reviews

Rolling Stone (p.72) - 3 stars out of 5 - "Jumping from buzzy lounge-hop to hard grooves to jazzy fantasia and mixing in cameos from Ghostface and El-P..."

Spin (p.108) - "His best: the elegantly broken beats and warm, butter-soft melodies of 'Pagina Dos'..."

Alternative Press (p.138) - 5 out of 5 - "Dark and lovely even when the jagged edges of Herren's collages are showing, these sounds of silence are a must-hear."

Vibe (p.145) - "The broken beats from this avant-garde producer will make your synapses snap..."

Mojo (Publisher) (p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 - "'Hide Ya Face' - the excellent first single from this new album - unites two of the world's finest rappers in a tour de force of top-flight MC-ing."