Album Review: Thievery Corporation ‘Treasures from the Temple’

November 18, 2016 – New York, NY Portrait shoot with Thievery Corporation’s Rob Garza and Eric Hilton credit Jen Maler

Thievery Corporation Treasures from the Temple (ESL Recordings) released on April 20, 2018

Rating: 7.5

Washington DC based electronic duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton known as Thievery Corporation’s latest release of Treasures from the Temple is a companion to their chart-topping 2017 Temple of I & I album release. The 12-track compendium includes a trove of original recordings and remixes from the band’s Temple sessions at Gee Jam Studios in Jamaica with vocal appearances by Mr. Lif, Sitali, Racquel Jones, Natalia Clavier, LouLou Ghelichkhani, and Notch.

Treasures from the Temple opens with “San San Rock” – a mostly instrumental reggae dub track, appropriate for an album that dropped a week early on 4/20. “History” features Mr. Lif and Sitali and gives a black American man’s view of history, with a lesson about Nat Turner. The rapper made a good point about education being too costly and the radio being mind numbing. “Music to Make You Stagger” blends lounge electronic sounds with dub reggae, and speeding things up by mixing in some various drum sounds over electronic beats.

The Thievery Remix of “Letter to the Editor” featuring Racquel Jones mixes the sounds of an old 8-bit video game with more structured, repetitive reggae rapping, which results in a mix of cool danceable beats over turntable scratching. “Destroy the Wicked” featuring Notch is a more traditional reggae sound over electronic echo effects produces a unique sound that has an inspirational feel that might make you want to overthrow an empire.

“Guidance” is a more traditional Thievery Corporation instrumental with their signature laid back electronic beats and atmospheric synths. “Water Under the Bridge” is a standout track featuring Natalia Clavier’s silky smooth vocals in English and Spanish over slowly building delicate beats over sparse electronic noises that seems to morph into a harpsichord. “Voyage Libre” is a dreamy electronic track that features the light French vocals of LouLou Ghelichkhani – it has sort of an 80’s synth pop feel.

“Road Block” is another dub reggae track featuring Racquel Jones, the Thievery Remix features some cool synths and interesting background noises over traditional reggae beats. “Joy Ride” featuring Mr. Lif and Sitali is a road inspired rap song about getting outside with backing harmonies over laidback beats. “La Force de Melodie” is another lounge inspired French song featuring the lovely vocals of LouLou Ghelichkhani, this time adding layered vocal beats. “Waiting Too Long” is a feel good reggae song with Notch’s singing to close the album on an upbeat note.