cLOUDDEAD

DISCOGRAPHY

cLOUDDEAD (2001) 8/10

Ten (2004) 7/10 +

Doseone

Subtle: A New White (2004) 6.5/10 +

Subtle: For Hero For Fool (2006) 7/10

Subtle: Exiting Arm (2008) 6/10

Odd Nosdam

Vol 7.1 (mini, archival 2000-03) 5.5/10

Burner (2005) 5.5/10

Level Live Wires (2007) 5/10 +

Sisters (2016) 5/10

Why? / Yoni Wolf

Part Time People Cage or Part Time Key? (1999)

Oaklandazulasylum (2003)

Elephant Eyelash (2005)

Alopecia (2008)

Eskimo Snow (2009)

Mumps Etc (2012)

Moh Lhean (2017)

Aokohio (2019)

    Following the commercial failure of the alternative hip-hop group Deep Puddle Dynamics, rappers Adam Drucker (Doseone), Yoni Wolf (Why?) and producer/deejay David Madson (Odd Nosdam) formed cLOUDDEAD, releasing a series of 10" singles under their label Anticon. 

    The album cLOUDDEAD would compile these singles and prove to be one of the best experimental hip-hop records of them all. The grainy, hymnal and droning synthlines and samples from Nosdam characterizes the group's exceptional taste for neo-psychedelia and indie electronic music, at some points approaching an urban form of new age. In contrast, Doseone and Why's bizarre flows appeal to avant-garde spoken word more than rap music, evoking the mumbling and word salads of neurotic aliens. Lyrics are jumbled and often incoherent metaphors that resemble stream-of-conscious rambling or random phrases drawn out of a hat. The resulting impression is a rap record emphasizing the perspective of antisocial outsiders rather than extroverted gangsters, vulnerable and overwhelmed with the anxious and confusing thoughts inside themselves. 

   The follow-up Ten would offer a higher production budget and larger emphasis on melodies and hooks. Its psychedelic and indietronic tones mostly overpower the hip-hop elements. 

     Its promotional single Dead Dogs Two would become a hit after Boards of Canada would remix the B-side. 

    Despite the elevated commercial viability, cLOUDDEAD would disband in the process of recording the album and include a farewell to fans in the album credits. 

EXTERNAL LINKS 

• Fan documentary by 108 Mics - link