It's become increasingly tempting to dismiss Wu-Tang albums as they flood into the shops in ever-increasing numbers, each one of even more dubious quality than the next.
What keeps the faithful checking for the Staten Island crew is the occasional gem of the quality of last year's Wu-salvaging Ghostface joint, 'Supreme Clientele'. 'The Yin And Yang', unfortunately, isn't going to have lapsed Wu lovers checking through the back catalogue for all those would-be classics that they missed whilst they were busy assuming that the Clan had fallen off.
However, in the Wu democracy even Ghostface's foul-mouthed mate Cappadonna gets to take his turn in the solo album stakes, even if he isn't granted the privilege of a single track graced by the golden production touch of the RZA. The majority of the production here is handled by Neonek and the consistently interesting Goldfingaz who brings a rough-edged electro element to the proceedings.
The standout track is unquestionably 'Love Is The Message', a true club banger that samples the MSFB classic of the same name. Like Ghostface's classic 'Daytona 500', it proves that whilst obvious samples don't work for most they can be gold in the Wu studios. With the familiar keyboard refrain running throughout Goldfingaz ruffs things up with aggressive scratches that drop like bombs thoughout the track.
The most unlikely collaboration on this album of less-than-obvious hook ups is the punishing post-'Planet Rock' of the Jermaine Dupri-produced 'We Know' featuring Da Brat. It shouldn't work but it rocks and, back-to-back with the similarly flavoured 'Shake Dat', adds an interesting new sound to the Wu palette.
Despite a fairly respectable hit rate by Wu-Tang standards, the problem is that Cappadonna's so-so flow lacks the humour and imagination of Ghostface. He also retains his reputation as the most unpleasant rhymer amongst them, though the excesses of 'Ironman' are thankfully not revisited.
