Cesar Comanche

Aside from what sadly demands some serious consideration for the '09 "Worst Cover Art" award, Justus League mainstay Cesar Comanche's reverential new set, Die In Your Lap, offers a palatable mix of heady soul/jazz orchestrations and smart lyrical thought food. Armed with a slew of pertinent observations and searching imagery, Comanche dedicates much of record number six to appreciating the good in this cold, cold world, outlining the long struggle to build himself up over the brighter tomorrow tones of "Choose" before swapping in a more advisory mood backed by some near-ethereal chants on the ominous "Shame." Though served well by the chunky rhythms and soulful underpinnings of a slew of 9th Wonder- and Khrysis-supplied beats, the dabbling producer shows a decidedly Axelrod-esque lean when controlling the boards ("Mercy" and "Lamb to Lion"). But while well intentioned, Comanche's sample selection is just a little too familiar, a fact that, along with some pointless interludes and film dialogue snippets - it's 2009, folks! - detracts from an otherwise decent record.