SLUMBERLAND

A dizzying barrage of pop-culture references and racial stereotypes, SLUMBERLAND recounts the adventures of DJ Darky, a fictional hip-hop pioneer who finds himself working at a club in 1980s Berlin and ends up on a quest for the elusive creator of "the perfect beat"—aka "the Schwa." The jazz musician disappeared sometime in the late '40s, leaving behind only a smattering of material—including a film sound track that has recently fallen into the expatriate DJ's hands. Despite the confusing plot and rampant name-dropping, Kevin Free’s smooth voice makes the story sound coherent. His laconic delivery has a soothing quality that blunts some of the edge of the book's racial implications. J.S.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2009]