Sydney based DJ Eddie ‘edseven’ O’Loughlin is one of our fine city’s best kept secrets. Having played alongside the likes of Roots Manuva, Quantic and DJ Spooky, and contributed a Solid Steel mix, he’s also one of the nicest and unassuming guys you’ll meet. While he’s been involved in various remix projects for Sydney’s Knowfoowl Records and DJ Regal, the road from DJ to producer has not been an easy one. However, with a full-length recording on the way through Likewise Recordings, and this offering which is also the first release from internet radio straightup.com.au’s new StraightUp Recordings, it looks like these problems might finally be over.

The title track Too Much Talk features the vocal talents of Swedish female MC Mapei. The collaboration came about after the beats ended up in the inbox of Patrik Larsson, CEO of Lights Out!, who manages Swedish hip hop heavyweights Freddie Crueger and Raw Fusion among others. Mapei, who is rumoured to have been offered a deal with the legendary Def Jam, delivers intelligent, tight rhymes and O’Loughlinin’s beats provide a perfect backdrop. A stuttering rhythm and cool bassline are reminiscent of the blunted beats of Raw Fusion acts like The Boom Lucy, so it’s not hard to see why Larsson would be a fan.

Oh Hayche sees the producer getting a little bit jazzy, with an irresistible broken beat bound to get you nodding your head. Brown again makes use of a choppy broken beat, but adds some cleverly chopped up vocal samples.

It’s been a long time coming, but Edseven’s debut as a producer has been worth the wait. This is some quality downbeat broken beat/hip hop, and well worth checking out. Available only through StraightUp Recordings at www.straightup.com.au/buy