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Once upon a time, somebody in the rap world decided to obscenely crank up the volume. Hit up today's typical hip-hop show, and vocal performances are totally lost within the eardrum-defiling, bass-heavy blitzkrieg. Eff that, louder doesn't equal better, you hear? (No, you can't, because you've attended too many of these frigging concerts). Antedote the Neato Project -- which brings live hip-hop to the top with an infectious blend of improvised jazz, palatable drum ´n' bass and free lyrical flows -- delights with easily-digestible ear food. The eight-deep ensemble showcases its musical chops with an emphasis on live instrumentation (no drum machine and zero overdubs) and socially conscious content from MCs Mesi Goodness and Many Pieces and vocalists Queen Bee and Aniana. The group's shtick is rooted in spontaneous elements, from the playing of "rarities" by percussionist E.B. Magic and Travis von Cartier's funk-fueled bass lines to perfectly-timed pops by skins player Dan Val Dan and Kellin's natural progressions on guitar and keyboard. Though Antedote's formula may sound like a clusterfuck on paper and a more suitable strategy for, say, a funk project, this is as good as a live band is going to sound. And you'll be able to enjoy it, too. -- Steve Jansen