Roots Manuva meets WrongTom - Duppy Writer
Reviewed by Sadie O., 3/30/11
Electronic skank-n-dub remixes of UK hip hop MC Roots Manuva’s opus of work. Some great riddim productions, and Roots Manuva always comes up with truly demented poetry. There are a couple of FCCs, but they’re very fast, singular and in passing, so no prob for safe harbor…
1. 2:39 FCC: I think there’s a “shit” right at beginning and “fuck” later – hard to tell. **sound of needle on vinyl, bit of chat, then rather downtempo relaxed rock steady skank, inscrutable rap.
2. 4:06 ****fun midtempo bouncy dancehall electronic riddim. Upbeat sound and strong lyrics.
3. 0:42 *beat cobbled from typewriter keys, processed voice. I’m sick of skits, but this was kinda cool…
4. 3:38 FCC: “what de faa” ***downtempo dubby/rootsy skank, forceful vocals. Goes from grime to patois.
5. 4:28 ***patois “reasoning” intro, swingy bouncy minimalist dancehall riddim. Two voices. Oddly downbeat, given the lyrics.
6. 3:57 **plinky plinks and preaching. Turns into a very groovy midtempo skank after a minute.
7. 4:20 FCC: “shit”, in passing. ***fun electronic Atari-style skank, train of thought rap.
8. 3:38 ****bit of air raid siren, then downtempo dub skank, glitchy and patchy but cool. Some wild vocal effects.
9. 0:20 *nice bit of dub and echo – for all of 20 seconds.
10. 2:47 ****bitchen-ass slow syncopated Dancehall. Crazy!
11. 3:00 ***another fun bouncy skank with all the elements oddly placed in the mix. I like it. False ending 40 seconds from end, then DEEP dub.
12. 3:30 *****minimalist but gnarly dub skank, self-assured vocals. No clue what he’s saying, mind you…
13. 5:04 *****midtempo roots bubble, nice. Really poetic rap. Pure dub for last minute or so.