Psyche Origami

The mind is a labyrinth, and few have mastered its shadowy inner workings with as much brain-bending fortitude as Psyche Origami. The trio -- MC Wyzsztyk (pronounced wiz-stick), and DJs Dainja and Synthesis -- weaves a complex web of beats and lyrical breakdowns that culminate in a heady and abstract cerebral stew. Now, with the release of its first full-length offering, Is Ellipsis ... (Arc the Finger Records), the group's impeccable transition from the studio to the stage is wholly documented.

When Psyche Origami (then operating as a duo without Dainja) dropped the Perforated EP (Royal Fuzz) in 2001, the group's fast and complicated style was enough to make even the most progressive hip-hop heads take notice. Twisting eccentric urban leanings into concept-driven hip-hop gave the group a sophisticated edge. But it wasn't until taking the act to a live setting that Psyche Origami truly shined.

Shortly after releasing Perforated, the group enlisted the able hands of Dainja to add another level to the arrangements and bring clarity to the live set. "There's stuff on the recordings that needs four hands if you're going to pull it off live," says Synthesis. "We added live interludes to [Is Ellipsis...] to show that when we're on-stage, we really do make it work."

Wyzsztyk adds, "We wanted the complexities from the record to translate to the live set. And with Dainja on board, we really do make it work. The sum is greater than the parts."

- Creative Loafing

Comprised of two DJs and one MC, Atlanta's Psyche Origami reminds me of a time when I actually enjoyed a lot of hip-hop. Groups like A Tribe Called Quest, Boogie Down Productions, and De La Soul gave the listener something to think about while also having fun without the crunk-n-bling of what passes for hip-hop today. And that's exactly what Psyche Origami is bringing back on Is Ellipsis. DJs Dainja and Synthesis supply jazzy beats while MC Wyzsztyk flows old school, giving songs like "The Wharf Song," "Eye Detector" and "Perspective" a smooth, laid back vibe. And remember that onetime hip-hop staple called record scratching? Psyche Origami not only remembers it, but also does it very well. For all the substance missing in mainstream hip-hop, Psyche Origami's underground sound provides more than enough to make up for it.

- Jonathan Williams

This is the second Psyche Origami 12" I review. Well, to refresh our memories, we can read that review here. At the same time however, we know that this 12" (with selections from the "Is Ellipsis" album) will be remembered, as it includes one incredible song.
And the song is another case of 'the b-side wins again', because "Dead Right" is just hard to beat like that. The piano sample is incredible. And it goes and goes and goes before Wyzsztyk is even saying a single word. Instead he searches through his rhyme book to just find the proper lyrics to bless this incredible music. Wyz' decided to spit some representing and some conscious (like "I can't sweat tomorrow because I'm hungry today") lyrics over the harder drum that gets added to the piano. Even though the sample sounds quite spiritual, the combination with braggadocio still works, and thus this song is just butters. The biggest 'fault' about this song is that it ends a little sudden. Actually it just breaks apart, as if the producer didn't know how to properly end this. Even though he ends the song the same way as he leads from the intro into the song. That doesn't make it better though.
There's however two more offerings on here, both on the a-side. The first is "Nuff Teef", a song opening with a nifty little 'but you can't have it, you don't have enough teeth to chew it' sample. This song pulls a rap version of 'I can't get no satisfaction', as that's what Wyzsztyk is talking about. At the same time he also gets a couple of boasting verses in there, again balancing two elements on a song. Finally there's "Eye Detector" and here the 'I'm bigger than you' reigns supreme. The beat got harder too, and it shows that in a very different way, Psyche Origami can do more than just one good song, as this is the second on this 12".
- Tadah

The stage presence of Psyche Origami is, to say the least, busting at the seams with energy. During a show, one can see how that energy bonds the group with it's audience, creating one entity-moving-pulsating-flowing." - Chad Radford

These guys take your psyche and fold it up into new creations...combining the smooth, dope ass elements of A Tribe Called Quest with supreme DJing skills... - CM