Sortilège

While it can be undermined with the notion of being an "Aethiopes sequel" to those who haven't listened, "Sortilège" proves itself to be a separate and individually great work from Gabe 'Nandez and Preservation. Gabe's flow is tactical, precise, his lyrics sharp and evocative; though his hoarse delivery is less active than most, he effortlessly slides over Preservation's dusty, almost-ancient production, evoking legends like Ka with a genius flow like that of MF DOOM. Conscious, political, whatever term you want for it -- this is an album defined by the times it resides in, and the horrific degree of apathy towards outright genocide, exhibited every day. Music is one form we have still mostly intact, so it's uplifting to see it used for the cause of liberation like this.