Ruckazoid, Scratchgod I. Academia-friendly hip-hop vet DJ Shadow has found a kindred spirit in Ruckazoid, whose debut EP has just been released on Shadow’s Liquid Amber label. At the outset of the project, a mechanical voice tells us that everything on it has been created through scratching. This makes you listen to it differently, and treat it as an exercise or experiment. But even without the overt intro, that’s what it sounds like, taking pains to show you variety and scratching skills at the expense of more natural musical statement. Of the three tracks, “Let the Music Take Control” is the most contrived, with the most generic title. Still, old-school impressive turntablism has its own thrills.