...Estuary

• Artist: Highlife Movement
• Rating:
• Release Date: July 19, 1999
• Genre: Rock

Review

"There's no way of avoiding the process of selection, " says the sampled voice on ...estuary's first track. In The Highlife Movement, the selections are made by the mysterious DJ 'D, who, judging from this record, must be a very thoughtful, intelligent, and stoned person. Though ...estuary fits within the broadest definition of hip-hop, this isn't party music whatsoever, but more a soundtrack for late-night contemplation. Musically, it leans heavily to the trip-hop side, built on a foundation of slow, intricate beats and loaded with flutes, strings, bells, and other aural ornamentation. The production is full and precise without being slick; the liner notes proclaim, "all tracks done 4-track, SP-1200, and dirty mic style." Lyrically, ...estuary is philosophical and emphatically non-gangsta.

Numerous guest rappers contribute to ...estuary, including such recognizable names as Aceyalone, Abstract Rude, and Mikah 9, and the samples are culled from such diverse sources as Jodie Foster, E.L.O., Mike Tyson, and Howard Zinn. This could have caused it to feel disjointed, but you always sense a guiding intelligence behind The Highlife Movement, a unity of vision. Clocking in at an economical 31:59 and reasonably priced, ...estuary offers an experience that's consistently pleasing to both the ear and the cerebral cortex. ~ Bill Cassel, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
History		Highlife Movement	(2:56)
The Difference Between You and Me		Abstract Rude, Highlife Movement	(3:23)
95%		Highlife Movement	(2:40)
The Prayer		Highlife Movement	(2:28)
The Truth		Highlife Movement	(3:28)
What Means Something		Aceyalone, Highlife Movement, Dr. Doom, Lady Blue	(3:12)
Nighthawks		Highlife Movement	(2:16)
The Movement [Instrumental]		Highlife Movement	(1:12)
The Question		Highlife Movement, Lady Blue	(3:15)
Money Habits		Highlife Movement	(5:06)
History, Pt. 2 (Outro)		Mikah 9, Highlife Movement	(1:57)

Credits

Aceyalone (?), Abstract Rude (?), Mike B. (?), Mikah 9 (?), Highlife Movement (Main Performer), Dr. Doom (?), DJ 'D (Producer), Fatjack (?), Darryl Freeman (?), Mark Evans (?), Lady Blue (Performer)