Roots Manuva – Slime & Reason (Big Dada/Inertia)

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Three years out of a scene clouded by ersatz wordsmiths and egoists of epic proportions could either be redemptive or suicidal, depending on who you are. One gets the feeling that if it had been anyone but Rodney Smith, a.k.a Roots Manuva, I wouldn’ be here discussing their first album since 2005. But Mr Manuva is such a staple of the UK’ hip-hop scene – and an icon the world over – that no amount of barren time will reduce the excitement surrounding a new album from this true iconoclast.

The gap years were purportedly a necessity for Roots Manuva. After the dark plaintive nature of his previous record Awfully Deep, he took leave to deal with personal issues and after years in the wilderness, he returns with his fourth album proper, Slime & Reason. The effortless lyrical flow and dubstep beats are back on a record that’s subtle and subdued, a real head-nodder rather than foot-stepper. “Again & Again’ is an excursion into calypso territory, and doesn’ just serve as an introduction to the new album but as a reintroduction for Manuva. “I’m back at the drawing board,” he informs us.

His brain-storming sessions at said drawing board have birthed two new collaborators – the apprentice to Manuva’ mastery, Toddla T, and current UK wonder-kid Joe Mount, better known as Metronomy. Toddla injects glitchy beats alongside Manuva’ own lethargic lexicon on “Do Nah Bodda Mi’ while Metronomy’ influence is felt on the ebullient electro-hop of “Let The Spirit’. Its dub, muted drum beat and horseshoe claps are four to the floor beauty, solid as concrete, which form the foundations for the skittering keyboards that dance above.

“Buff Nuff’ is thumping dancehall material, and pure floor fodder. The electro explosion otherwise known as “I’m A New Man’ might exemplify Roots Manuva’ ethos on Grime & Reason. Three years away from the scene and Rodney Smith is back, born again as a new man. The flow, the beats and the aesthetic, though, remain classic Roots Manuva.

Dom Alessio

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