Soulico Get Exotic On The Speaker

Tel Aviv has always had a crazy party scene and when you think about it, it only seems right. With all the war, terror, and destruction it totally makes sense that this city knows how to let off a little steam. With western and middle eastern influences converging in the heart of this city it only makes sense that these influences permeate the scene. Perhaps, no other group, represents this fusion of influences better than Soulico.

Fusing hip hop sounds with middle eastern influences and focusing its sight on the dancefloor, Soulico's debut album, Exotic on the Speaker, is a diverse urban flavored album that reflects this war torn modern city better than the media ever could. Edgy, traditional and tense Exotic on the Speaker is the sound of day to day life in a city struggling to survive and shows that life can be both, positive and good when given half the chance. That being said, Exotic on the Speaker is an excellent album whose assortment of influences help this album stand out from the eternal sea of dance music.

Soulico are masters at fusing traditional Israeli folk sounds with bass bin crushing bangers and then wrapping them around sharp rhymes and rhythms. With appearances from Ghostface Killa, Del, Rye Rye, Pigeon John, and a host of Middle Eastern MC's, Exotic on the Speaker proves repeatedly that music can unite any culture at any time. As if to prove a point, the band of DJ's even manage to find time to throw in a host of dancehall and reggae influences. Exotic on the Speaker is an album that crosses religions, borders, and cultures in an effort to get everyone on the dancefloor and with songs like, "Pitum Banu," and the title track it's almost impossible to sit still.

Think of Exotic on the Speaker as a aural tourist pamphlet taken to the disco and left there. With beats banging and rhymes flowing the Soulico DJ's have put together a record that's a testament to not only their abilities as DJ's but their dedication and love of music no matter where it comes from. After listening to Exotic on the Speaker one can't help but wonder if Soulico is making a statment by fusing all these cultures together. That's a question that can be debated another time, what can't be debated is just how good Exotic on the Speaker is.