During his career, the late (and great) Ol’ Dirty Bastard (AKA Russell Jones) was regarded by some as a positive creative influence on RZA, the Wu’s producer and figurehead. The group’s soundsmith had a tendency towards laborious, gothic self-indulgence, which occasionally smothered his undeniable brilliance. Yet, on ODB’s solo records, he honed a funkier, more bloody-minded approach (the irresistibly dumb one-note piano hook to Dirty’s classic ‘Shimmy Shimmy Ya’ being a prime example) which was developed – in patches – on the Wu’s group releases.
Proponents of this theory can count 8 Diagrams (the group’s first post-ODB record) as a partial vindication. It is, without doubt, the most sombre, low-key Wu-Tang release to date; an album which focuses more on cute production touches and the thick, gentlemanly flow of Method Man and GZA, than any quickfire rhymes or strong pop hooks. In the absence of the sadly-departed Jones, Ghostface Killah represents the group’s main source of pop charisma and dynamism. Alas, he is largely absent here: a state of affairs which, perhaps, owes much to his very public criticisms of RZA’s recent production work.
So, the disappointing news is that 8 Diagrams probably hones just 70% of the elements that make Wu-Tang great. The positive news is that, unlike most groups, the collective are still capable of brilliance while punching below their weight.
Opener ‘Campfire’ is below-par – a jumbled, stop-start mish-mash of quavering strings and muffled beats – but proceedings do pick up from there. ‘Unpredictable’ is choppy and soulful, with some delicious funk-guitar screeches and synthetic string stabs. Beatles-sampling number ‘The Heart Gently Weeps’ is languid, slow-burning and sublime, while ‘Stick Me For My Riches’ is a smart tag-team rap, built over a lush, soulful musical backdrop.
Penultimate track ‘Tar Pit’ is the standout; a snappy, dextrous rhythm, combined with rich swathes of guitar, and some nicely mangled brass samples.
The Wu-Tang Clan are undoubtedly in decline, but given the musical peaks they have scaled in the past, there remains plenty of sublime scenery to observe on the way down.