In the six year gap since the release of Mr. Scruff’s last album, 2002’s ‘Trouser Jazz’, Manchester-based dj/producer Andy Carthy has become something of a savvy entrepreneur, his distinctive ‘potato people’ designs (see the sleeve art above for an example) adorning clothing and umbrellas, while his accompanying range of specialty teas continues to apparently do good business. Not perhaps, then the sort of interests you might expect from say, Eric Morillo, but then again Carthy’s always maintained a persona located well away from the ‘big name’ DJ bacchanalia. Emerging after a prolonged production absence broken only by a Solid Steel mix session and the re-release of his debut ‘Mrs. Cruff’ outing, this fourth album from Mr Scruff ‘Ninja Tuna’ sees Carthy offering up what’s perhaps his most well-rounded and accessible effort yet. It’s also his most collaborations-packed effort to date, the guestlist here including Alice Russell, Quantic, Roots Manuva Danny Breaks, and current UK soul vocalist to watch Andreya Triana.
Throughout, hiphop remains a predominant influence here; see the DJ Premier-flavoured boom-bap opening track ‘Test The Sound’, but in this case the clattering beats manage to smoothly incorporate themselves into more retro soul-oriented moments such as the Alice Russell-fronted ‘Music Takes Me Up’, adding a welcome rhythmic bite that saves things from getting too placid and coffee table-oriented. Elsewhere, there’s a rich, visceral sub-bass presence familiar from the booming ‘Sweetsmoke’ days present on highlights such as dubstep-centred instrumental track ‘Whiplash’, with its rapid-fire horn samples, and the seismic bass swells of dark and bleepy digi-dub Roots Manuva collaboration ‘Nice Up The Function.’ Those leaning towards the more house-centred side of things are also nicely catered for here, with the awesomely titled ‘Hairy Bumpercress’ and ‘Get On Down’ offering up plenty of funk-infused, 4/4 fuel, the latter throwing in some distinctly Italo centred bass accents. All in all, ‘Ninja Tuna’ sees Carthy honing his eclectic style further rather than really ripping up the rulebook – an approach that’s likely to be welcomed by his sizeable fanbase.
Chris Downton
