Wizards of OZ

Hilltop Hoods have been present in the Australian hip-hop scene since the late 90's, but their flow has only recently been noticed off the continent. Their platinum album The Hard Road, which hit No. 1 on the Australian charts, dropped in 2006. But the Adelaide based group continued to impress and broaden their musical horizons by releasing The Hard Road: Restrung this year, which harnesses the skills of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. Each track has been re-worked with the orchestra to create a new listening experience unique from much of what's appearing on today's hip-hop front.
The symphony demonstrates their talent and diversity on tracks such as 'Conversations from a Speakeasy', which has a great jazzy 1940's sound to it; 'Monsters Ball Restrung', which hits heavy thanks to brooding minor-key string swells; and instrumental piece 'The Captured Vibe Restrung'.
Projects such as these speak strongly about the support that Adelaide musicians seem to give to each other, in this case breaking through the borders of musical genres.

Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road Restrung
Hilltop Hoods - Monsters Ball Restrung
Hilltop Hoods - The Captured Vibe Restrung

- matty b.