Oh my goodness! There are so many things to talk about! Where to begin? Well, I suspect I ought begin at the beginning-- that's the word. Vadim, that crazy Russian DJ that brought us such masterpieces as USSR Repertoire and USSR Reconstruction is bringing us another LP to whet our Ninja- starved appetites.

The first thing that jumps out of this record, bringing beads of sweat to my furiously wrinkled brow, was the sheer number of additional artists helping Vadim out on this one. Wow! Here's the list:

EL-P
Skinnyman
Swollen Members
Jupiter Jam & J.A.E.
Sarah Jones
Blurum 13
Toastie Taylor
Moshun Man
Killer Koin
Blade
Iriscience & DJ Primecuts
Scratch Perverts

Golly! With all those "wack," "phat" artists, USSR: Life from the Other Side is sure to be as innovative, groundbreaking and just plain fun as his earlier recordings! But I'm sad to tell you that, no, that's not the case at all.

Perhaps Vadim's been burning his candle at both ends. Who knows? Maybe the problems in Chechnya are getting him down. But looking for innovation on Life from the Other Side is a futile search, indeed. Where Vadim once gave us rhythm- defying breaks that made even this jaded reviewer sit up and take notice, he now seems content to seek refuge in hip-hop convention and played samples! Wh-what?! Yes, I speak the truth, fine reader!

Vadim's hooked on two things on Life from the Other Side; old- sounding instructional samples and mediocre raps! Oh, no! Yes, sadly, the album is saturated with those now- omnipresent crackling edu-film voices instructing us on how to "scratch a record." These samples might have been entertaining when used sparingly on Coldcut or Funki Porcini records, but that was a few years ago. To make things even less endearing, Vadim is heavy- handed with his records, smearing them all over the place like a sick fungus sprouting from a 1993 deodorant stick. Yuk!

The raps manage to keep their head above water but fail to merit much attention. Appealing strictly to the hip-hop devotee, beatbox drum loops bounce their way along, keeping 4/4 time for the raps and self- consciously wacky samples, and rarely wavering. Tracks like "Building Tension in Two Dimensions" seem aimed at drawing out the moment and building suspense, but fall completely flat due to a complete lack of a climax.

One last thing that deserves mention; Sarah Jones' "Your Revolution," modeled after Gil Scott-Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised," is the single moment on the album that almost redeems the record. Jones' sexy voice wraps itself around rhymes so sweet and words so sharp that it hurts to see it lost between cushions in the couch mediocrity. Keep your eyes peeled for Jones and pray that Vadim goes further on his next effort, lest you break out in a horrifying rash. Oh, fine. I won't make you.

-James P. Wisdom