Some Beans & An Octopus

The fifth release from Cologne-based electronic artist Adam Butler (aka Vert) is an incredible mix of of hip-hop songwriting and storytelling backed by found-percussion, ragtime piano, taut-yet-fluid double bass, and occasional help from a rasping rhythm sax, old marimbas, dirty organ, and a panoply of mutated and invented instruments (such as the 'shakerphone' and the 'palmonica').

Some Beans & An Octopus is a joyful romp through the entire history of popular music from around the world, taking in ragtime, R'n'B, flamenco, ska, Turkish wedding music and lots more. But this isn't just some sample-heavy genre checklist -- there are actually no samples used at all -- instead, these tracks genuinely seem to have a global perspective hard-wired into their DNA. This is 21st century world music, the ultimate mash-up of ideas and styles.