"Downtown Science" is no ordinary underground instrumental hip hop album. Heavy guitars, jazzy interludes, rolling pianos, downtempo grooves and film noirish influences make Blockhead's second album for Ninja Tune hard to categorize. But not hard to enjoy.

Blockhead (AKA Tony Simon) put together this album as an ode to downtown Manhattan where he has lived his whole life. The album is full of emotion, evoking sadness, heartbreak and loss. You won't find any club bangers anywhere on this disc.

Opening with the song "Expiration Date" sets the tone for the rest of the album. A gritty track with a sampled vocal that is used sparingly give the song an ethereal feel.

One cut that defies the concept on the album is the slacker disco "Art Of Walking," with its funky looped vocals that almost makes you want to get on the floor and dance. But that is as close as he gets to shaking your hips.

Overall, a guilty pleasure for fans who are disaffected by the current crop of mainstream hip hop and are looking for something else to tweak their ears.

Track Listing:

1. Expiration Date
2. Roll Out the Red Carpet
3. Cherry Picker
4. Art of Walking
5. Crashing Down
6. Stop Motion Traffic
7. Serenade
8. Good Block Bad Block
9. The First Snowfall
10. Dough Nation
11. Long Walk Home
12. Quiet Storm
13. 7 Miles*
14. Write Back Soon*
15. Nightlife*
* LP only tracks