Shawn Lee and Clutchy Hopkins - Clutch of the Tiger

Clutchy Hopkins is something of a self-made enigma, replete with a somewhat unlikely backstory that belies his chilled grooves. It has fuelled rumours that he is actually one, or all three, of the Beastie Boys mucking about. On this collaboration with musical handyman, troubadour, and sometime video game sound-tracker, Shawn Lee, it’s easy to hear why such rumours have taken shape, particularly if you take the Brooklyn trio’s The In-Sound From Way Out as a reference point. Clutch of the Tiger is entirely instrumental, funky in its toe-tapping jazzy ways and is indeed effortlessly cool. Unfortunately it’s also largely forgettable and unless this really is your bag, it’s all too easy to let it wash over you as you begin to wonder what you’ll have for tea. However, its second-half fares better, with Bad Influence’s quivering vocal-violas stretching things out of a perceived comfort zone. All in, it’s fine within its field, but this Tiger, whoever he is, could do with baring some more teeth. [Darren Carle]