Trade Goods is the new EP from Hangman, a band whose sound could be described as a blend of hip-hop, rock and funk. I first heard their music a few months ago on a demo version of this EP, and although I was impressed with parts of the record, I felt that at times it didn’t sound as professional as it potentially could have.

However, the final product is a little different. I felt that the demo was lacking something, but upon listening to the finished EP I have changed my mind. The band seem to have gone back to the studio to create what is all together a far more polished record than the demo.

The end result is an EP which successfully combines various styles of music to create something very fresh. The opening track, Spinning, is fairly mellow, easing the listener into the record with an easygoing acoustic guitar riff and simple beat. Later in the album Hangman’s style evolves into the far heavier track Grind, a song driven by distorted electric guitar and strong hip-hop vocals. But what remains throughout is the confident musicianship that Hangman bring to the recording studio, and no doubt to the stage as well.

The album reminded me at times of fellow kiwi band Supergroove, as at times the funk sound of the two bands sounded quite similar, though this is not to say that Trade Goods sounded unoriginal in any way. Fans of Supergroove will probably enjoy this record, but I could also recommend it to anyone who enjoys hip-hop, rock, funk, or anything in between.

Check out Hangman on NZ Beats Show #40
Reviewed by Luke
You can purchase Hangman albums at Amplifer or check out their myspace page