I don’t know much about dubstep. I know even less about ragga. Yet this album features both prominently and I am compelled to hail it as an instant classic.
The Bug is essentially Kevin Martin – a musician who has been working across various musical forms since the late 80’s – and whoever he happens to be working with at the time. In this case, it’s a bunch of London-based MCs, and the sound of the album is attributable to his love of classic 70’s dub and it’s more modern update, dubstep. There is more than a little spark of brilliance to each of the 12 tracks here, often provided by these assembled MCs like Flowdan, and the formidable Warrior Queen. They flow with or surge against springloaded basslines (on ‘Insane’), dancehall blare (opener ‘Angry’, which lives up to it’s name) or dubby spaces. Martin mixes things up well as far as pacing and sequencing goes, recognising that there was an album to be made – impressive given that some of the key tracks were singles released over the past few years. Martin knows when to keep things spare and jagged, and when to crank up the rhythmic activity.
The material here has depth and presence, both musically and lyrically. There are almighty grooves, and bass blasts that wil torture your eardrums every bit as viciously as any heavy rock record. It’s a conscious, angry record – not vitriolic, but full of righteousness, frustration and unease, with a soundtrack that could destroy tower blocks.
Overall the album feels very much a part of the cultural Now! From the pointed metaphor of the title on, it says that the modern world is not an easy place to live in, but we try. There are world-weary, brooding aspects too, particularly on the superb closer ‘Judgement’, but it’s generally a lively, potent affair. Like ‘Blue Lines’ or ‘Fear Of A Black Planet’, this record feels important. And, crucually, like those epochal releases, it will carry on feeling important. Without doubt, one of the albums of the year, at least.
Popularity: 5% [?]
