Sometimes the easiest way to stumble upon a band isn’t by reading magazines or listening to the radio. Sometimes it’s better just to download some music by a band because they have a great name. It worked for me with Youngblood Brass Band because Is That a Riot has surely become my favourite album in April, and I’ve been listening to it over and over.

Here’s the basic synopsis:

‘Youngblood Brass Band is focused on creating consistently progressive, acoustic (the band is made up of 3 drummers, 5 horn players, a sousaphonist and an MC) music, employing whatever means necessary to do so.’

The result is the freshest, most purposeful hiphop I’ve heard since…I can’t remember…possibly since seeing Ozomatli live in San Francisco in 1999.

The album opens with two of the strongest tracks I’ve heard this year - ‘March’ and ‘Nuclear Summer’. They’re menacing, brutal and just soar like most bands never manage. They’re made all the better with their extreme dynamics, switching from a whisper to an explosion, all without the aid of guitars or electronics - just natural acoustic power.

Afterwards the energy levels drop slightly. I’m always partly grateful and partly disappointed, because I think another song with so much energy would kill me, but then, I always want more still. What you do get instead certainly doesn’t disappoint, however. Sometimes the songs are jazzy, sometimes they switch into instrumental Latin rhythms and bursts of carnival-style horns. Other times it’s back into the ominous hiphop vibe. ‘Waiver’ even manages to sound a bit like Fugazi without requiring a single guitar.

Put simply, Is That a Riot? is fantastic. And as great as this album is, it’s going to sound a thousand times better live, so if you ever see the name around, don’t hesitate to buy tickets.

Track 2 - ‘Nuclear Summer’ and other tracks are available to stream via piespace.

For downloadable tracks visit the official website: http://www.youngbloodbrassband.com