Diasporic

Mass Appeal

Though the band’s name refers to a displacement of people from their original homeland, Diasporic’s first album plays as refugee camp to all wayward genres. The spectrum sways from vintage Roots nod “Organix” to the Living Colour heat warming “Somethin’ in Tha Pot.” Riffing on genocide in Darfur (“Karbombs in Kabul”) and child labor in Cambodia (“24/7”), the Austin quintet is most comfortable voicing for the oppressed. Call it Mass Appeal. Vox-man Shorti C punches political musings through a Kravitzian croon (“Come Into My World”) and splits the limelight with featured MC AK (“Don’t Fade”) and fellow Diasporian Blaxsmith, “G-Spot” fixing to “funk your mind” with a backbeat that flows into a “Cool Rivers” afternoon swank complete with Blood Sugar-era Frusciante lead. As tour guide, Ms. C-Note hints at the jump: “Welcome to Planet Dia.” Everybody’s welcome.

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This article appears in April 18 • 2008.

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