Settle into your favourite chair, burn one down and push play. This is probably the best way to take in the latest offering from Astronomy Class Pursuit Of Happiness, the follow up to their 2006 debut record, Exit Strategy. Let the dub style beats wash over your ears, and the ever insightful rhymes of Ozi Battla once again spark the mind.

I found this album to be quite understated compared to Exit Strategy, lacking in the more upbeat tracks which dotted the previous record. However, I feel this one is a grower; I have enjoyed it more and more with each listen. The first single to drop from the record was Where you at?, featuring Killaqueenz, Kween G and Vida-Sunshyne, and it has been on high rotation at Triple J and still remains one of my favourites from the record. Kween G and Vida-Sunshyne really steal the show, giving a verse each after Ozi’s blistering intro to the song.

The ‘Class’ also invite along a few other guests, and Diafrix is a perfect fit on the title track Pursuit of Happiness. The dubby beats sound a lot like the style we are already used to hearing Diafrix speak over and he seems an obvious choice for the record, the fit with Ozi being seamless. As title tracks should be, this is one of the highlights.

Ozi has cemented himself as one of the better storytellers over his long career, and he showcases this skill throughout the album. There is no better example than the song Pull the Track Up in which he sends a message of non violence. Explaining how any violence at gigs wether it comes from patrons, over zealous bouncers or the police can ruin the vibe of a night. The message reminded me of the Gang Starr track Soliloquy of Chaos, and I’m pretty sure I heard a Guru sample in the following song Work. Small things like that are what makes an album’s production stand out, and Chasm has done a good job on this record.

Another good example of Ozi’s storytelling skill comes across in Award Show in which Astronomy Class (with help from label mate The Tongue) take a light hearted stab at award ceremonies in general. Slight jabs at the expense of an ex Australian Idol host and prominent Kiwi Hip Hop star make this one worth a closer listen.

This record should appeal to most fans of Oz hip hop, especially anyone who enjoyed Exit Strategy and The Herd’s Summerland record. Make sure you give this one a few spins, as with most albums worth listening to it gets better each time around.