Damu – Unity

Unity is one of the more counter-intuitive off-shoots of UK bass music's amorphous, lexically-challenged evolution. Almost completely cleaved of the low end sound design of its contemporaries, Unity's deliberate emphasis on crystalline R&B-via-UK garage vocals, spindly melodies and lightly skittering rhythms lends Damu's debut album a certain serenity that is not altogether unwelcome.

Waterfall Of Light and Maths Is Fine For Sum trade on this USP to great effect, as do the chopped, Presk-like pads and 808s of After Indigo. All in all, Unity is as cohesive a listen as the title suggests, but it's also a bit too tidy for its own good. Its hypergloss lacquer encases Unity in a prettiness that holds the listener at arms' length, and its lack of viscera is a particular weakness when it tips into the limp grime-pop of Ridin' The Hype. A competent debut, for sure, and one that's easy to admire. Falling in love with it is another matter entirely.