Roots Manuva - Slime & Reason

Rodney revisits his roots

It’s interesting to note that the starting point for this, Manuva’s fourth studio album, was apparently a desire to look back to his roots; specifically the sounds that rocked his box in the days before he discovered hip-hop.

This soundscape was dominated by sound systems and, according to Manuva himself, his principal goal for Slime & Reason was to try and recreate something of the atmosphere of the old Channel One and Studio One recordings. Translated through the stylistic filter of UK hip-hop in 2008, this desire to reach back in time makes itself felt in the pared-down sonics’ deep shades of dub and dancehall, offset with a palette of futuristic electro. Having dispensed with his backing band of old in favour of working with producers Toddla T and Metronomy, the new set-up has yielded some interesting results in the contrasting vibes of the gospel-flavoured Let The Spirit and Kick Up Ya Foot: surely the first electro take on Bach to make it onto a hip-hop album.

3 stars 3 stars 3 stars

Big Dada | BDCD 123

Reviewed by Grahame Bent
<< Back to Issue 354

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