Kano - London Town

Kano's sophomore release, London Town, seems to be two forces fighting for one cause. Follow us if you will, Kano doesn't want to be labelled as an MC that fits the grime/hip-hop box. He has enlisted some unlikely collaborations from the likes of Damon Albarn with the disjointed Feel Free, and the unexpected pairings continue with Kate Nash on Me & My Mic - the up-beat, funky exuberant revelation of when music used to be simpler for Kano leaves you wondering if he has forgotten his p's and q's. When production lets Kano down, his lyrical force shines through and keeps you listening with the hope that he will keep something that stands out or provides some form of harmony between each track. The lead single, This Is The Girl, featuring Craig David, delivers all that is expected from Kano in a commercial capacity. This album shows he is willing to experiment with an ear to the street and an eye on the charts. [Omar Jenning]