- Packing 30 tracks onto a single LP seems like quite an ask from a (relatively) unknown producer. But this collection of miniatures from fLako, AKA Dirg Gerner, is hardly a typical album. It culls work from 2006 to 2008 and is primarily a beat tape in the spirit of Dilla's Donuts. It also represents, in some fashion, the end of an era for Gerner, as evidenced by the work found on last year's Mini Toolbooth EP—also released on Project Mooncircle—as well as further projects with the likes of Fatima and Alexander Nut on HoTep Records. On Mesktet you get Gerner in all forms: "Sun Ba," "The Wrong Guy" and "Dwarf Dance" could move the heads of the most rigid of listeners while cuts like "Irukandji' and "That's Right" delve into more electronic hip-hop experimentalism.
Latin roots are explored via samples of meringue and other South American rhythms on "Mirror Box," "With You" and "Shake It Harder." "YeahYeahYeah"' sees Gerner stretching out both length-wise (nearly four minutes!) and thematically (its emotional neo-soul hints at a depth heretofore unheard from the beatsmith). The same goes for "Crying on the In" which also blends subtle melodies with softly spoken and warm vocals. Whether Gerner will be continuing to incorporate more vocals in the future is anyone's guess. But The Mesektet is an intriguing album that has its producer telling stories without them for the most part. That you can hear what he's saying loud and clear is a testament to his talent.
Tracklist01. Irukandji
02. Sun Ba
03. YeahYeahYeah
04. Sluggish Thing
05. Moving Molecules
06. Knots
07. Crying On the In
08. Drops
09. Druff
10. The Wrong Guy
11. With You
12. Welcome
13. Dwarf Dance
14. Eluma Horns
15. Lullaby
16. Humming
17. One Quarter
18. Lords Of Chaos
19. That's Right
20. Poten
21. Chapter 4
22. SP405
23. Mirror Box
24. Wedjit
25. Passage
26. Colors of Love
27. Dwarf Spell
28. Hotsh
29. Peter and the Whale
30. Shake It Harder