Search - 60 Channels :: Tuned in Turned on

Los Angeles-based producer the Angel might be one of the most prolific artist-producers you've never heard of. She's served as the producer for hip-hop compilations, collaborated with members of More Rockers for a jazzy drum & bass project called Jaz Clash, not to mention a seemingly unending list of one-off singles and remixes encompassing many genres, ranging from jungle to down-tempo to hip-hop. 60 Channels is masterminded by the Angel, but considering the sophistication of her other work, one can't help being a little disappointed. Though there are moments of dubbed-out bliss (the opener, "Light Years On"), they are a bit soiled by the Angel's choice of vocals (mostly her own and Frente's Angie Hart)--so soft and reverb-addled that no emotion surfaces. Instead of matching smart rhymes with the tough and tricky beats and instrumental sounds that Tuned In...Turned On boasts, the Angel drops the ball with hollow lyrics. Not surprisingly, the best tracks are the ones where the vocals are kept to a minimum (à la "Laid Back and Eazy")--focusing on the Angel's mastery of experimental beats. --Tricia Romano