The Garthim-Master

On 2009 solo debut Old Friends, Selfhelp let slip his nerdy side with two tracks thematically based upon fantasy and sci-fi sources. His odes to The Dark Crystal and Robotech were well received by the nerdcore community, so the concept was expanded to album length. For this project of youthful and nerdy nostalgia, Selfhelp has adopted the alter ego of Garthim-Master, the position held by The Dark Crystal character skekUng, so he returns to "The Crystal Shard," of course, albeit exchanging Mattr's electronic production for a superb psych rock remix by DJ Extend, the producer responsible for the album's beats, which include the indie rock balladry of "Forward to the Past (88 mph)," the countrified twang of "After Midnight" and the g-funk soul of "Dude, Where's My AT-AT At?" The mellow, melodic production is a great match for the Garthim-Master's vocals, accentuating his smooth rap harmonies and allowing for the occasional double-time rap. The enjoyment of individual songs can be dependent on the knowledge of subjects, with songs devoted to RPGs, videogames, comics, action figures and sci-fi and fantasy franchises. Selfhelp sounds comfortable and in the zone as Garthim-Master, resulting in some extremely accessible tracks, considering the nerdy subject matter. Highlights include humorous Star Wars send-up "Dude, Where's My AT-AT At?" with Wordburglar, sci-fi themed braggadocio battle rap "Mynocks & Jawas" and "MMORPG," a warning against over-indulgence that wins with its simple, but catchy, chorus and relatable life lessons. Exorcise your ghosts of nostalgia with either a free download or a limited edition vinyl EP for the truly haunted.